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2012 UK Orchid season updates (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter heakl
- Start date
Roy Atkins
Member
I am going to be in Norfolk next week and would love to see Fen Orchid. I realise the site details might be a bit sensitive but would be very grateful if anyone could help me with some directions. You could e-mail me at [email protected]
Micky
Well-known member
rmielcarek
Well-known member
Bee orchids
I suspect it may not be a good year for Bee orchids, especially here in the west country; poor numbers and those that have emerged are damaged by last weeks storms.
I visited 2 sites today; at one, which normally holds a few Bees with a few with sepaloid petals, I couldn't find a single plant. At the other, which normally holds quite a few, many of which are var belgarum I could only find 5 plants, four of which were belgarum (and the fifth was so badly browned I couldn't see the lip pattern).
Rich M
I suspect it may not be a good year for Bee orchids, especially here in the west country; poor numbers and those that have emerged are damaged by last weeks storms.
I visited 2 sites today; at one, which normally holds a few Bees with a few with sepaloid petals, I couldn't find a single plant. At the other, which normally holds quite a few, many of which are var belgarum I could only find 5 plants, four of which were belgarum (and the fifth was so badly browned I couldn't see the lip pattern).
Rich M
Attachments
Hi folks, my chum Clive is in Surrey for the rest of this week and is keen to see Late Spider Orchid, though he knows it will probably involve a bit of a drive, probably very early morning or early evening as he is busy all day.
Does anyone have a reliable site for Late Spider and if so could they possibly PM me with directions please.
Thanks
Jeff
Does anyone have a reliable site for Late Spider and if so could they possibly PM me with directions please.
Thanks
Jeff
chris butterworth
aka The Person Named Above
Spent far to much time on Sunday dribbling over the Lady's Slippers at Gait Barrows. There were well over 50 spikes which cheered me up no end. A single, tiny, Fly Orchid was the other 'bringer of joy'.
Chris
Chris
Having seen some nice pulchella Early Marsh last week, I wonder if the subspecies incarnata also grows in Hampshire or a neighbouring county? If so could somebody pm me as I'd like to try and see incarnata this weekend! Also does anybody know if Heath Fragrants are flowering at their New Forest sites yet?
Cheers
Chris.
Cheers
Chris.
naturenutz
Well-known member
Southern Marsh Orchid
I found 2 flowering southern marsh orchids yesterday near severn beach in south glos.Does anyone know the status of these in south gloucestershire eg common,local or rare.I usually find common spotted locally so this make a nice change :t:.
I found 2 flowering southern marsh orchids yesterday near severn beach in south glos.Does anyone know the status of these in south gloucestershire eg common,local or rare.I usually find common spotted locally so this make a nice change :t:.
childhood memories
Well-known member
South Coast seems to be doing ok for Bee’s. I visited 3 local sites, first two sites 30+ and the third 80+. Following advice previously posted I checked all the bees I found with a few not standard (for a newbie) as a result
Nick
Attachments
Looking great this weekend in Surrey:
Musk, Bee, Common Fragrant, Common Spotted, Greater Butterfly
Slightly past their best, but still nice:
Man, Common Twayblade
Mostly toast:
Birdsnest, White Helleborine
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Last weekend in Kent the Lizards were looking great; but in a wide range of conditions from completely in bud to almost finished!
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Which brings me to the "help wanted" section: I'm a southerner, and I'll be going up to Bedford next weekend (which is unusually far north for me!?!). There are a number of species I'd like to track down - if I push things I can probably drive two hours from there (four hours driving in total). Any help with these would be excellent:
Lesser Twayblade, Dark Red Helleborine, Creeping Lady's Tresses (Goodyera repens), Small White Orchid (Pseudorchis albida), Coralroot (Coralorhiza trifida), and I'll throw in the Ghost since it's a wish list; rather than a likely to see list
I know most aren't in that area, and that the others aren't in season, but any help would be appreciated!
Musk, Bee, Common Fragrant, Common Spotted, Greater Butterfly
Slightly past their best, but still nice:
Man, Common Twayblade
Mostly toast:
Birdsnest, White Helleborine
------------------
Last weekend in Kent the Lizards were looking great; but in a wide range of conditions from completely in bud to almost finished!
------------------
Which brings me to the "help wanted" section: I'm a southerner, and I'll be going up to Bedford next weekend (which is unusually far north for me!?!). There are a number of species I'd like to track down - if I push things I can probably drive two hours from there (four hours driving in total). Any help with these would be excellent:
Lesser Twayblade, Dark Red Helleborine, Creeping Lady's Tresses (Goodyera repens), Small White Orchid (Pseudorchis albida), Coralroot (Coralorhiza trifida), and I'll throw in the Ghost since it's a wish list; rather than a likely to see list
I know most aren't in that area, and that the others aren't in season, but any help would be appreciated!
Phil Bishop
Well-known member
I seem to be finding Bees fairly common this year -I have visited a number of sites recently in Herts Kent and Surrey and have seen more this year than I have for some time. Locally they have popped up in two locations where they have not been seen before, though there are known populations nearby.
Or maybe I'm getting better at finding them.
foresttwitcher
Virtually unknown member
Bee orchids are late at a Chiltern woodland site - only 6 in tight bud whereas had 20+ in flower this time last year.
Also: Common Spotted looking good & numerous; Pyramidal just coming into flower in numbers; 2 strong Twayblade & a Southern Marsh just about going over.
Quite a few Broadleaved Helleborine coming up but the strongest plants have had tops snipped off (by slugs, presumably).
Also: Common Spotted looking good & numerous; Pyramidal just coming into flower in numbers; 2 strong Twayblade & a Southern Marsh just about going over.
Quite a few Broadleaved Helleborine coming up but the strongest plants have had tops snipped off (by slugs, presumably).
I am glad I have found this orchid forum and this is my first post. I've been looking at orchids up and down the country for over ten years now so know loads of sites and I am not precious about any of them. I think the more people that see orchids the better, there really is no point in keeping sites secret. Ok a few have been dug up in the past but not recently which is good to know. Fen orchids- two great sites, Upton Fen Norfolk, and Kenfig Wales. And I reckon now would be good. Musk orchids probably a bit early -a week should do it at various sites. Noar hill , Parkgate Down and Box Hill. late spiders at Wye, kent v soon, S marsh and Lizard should still be going at Sandwich. Bees at Box hill now. Loads of fragrant at Aston Clinton and great Butterfly at Dancers End. I'd like to know where Frogs are near Eastbourne right now as the ones I go and see near The Burgh on the South Downs near north Stoke don't come till the middle of July. For any more info pm me.
leptochila
Well-known member
Hi there,
I'm afraid there are many instances where orchids have recently fallen foul of plant poaching and it continues to remain a real threat even to the seemingly unglamorous species impossible to cultivate outside their specialised habitats. Even species such as the Bog orchid have been lost from sites and indeed entire counties where small and vulnerable populations are easily extirpated. As such, I would not describe maintaining discretion when publicising the details for the sites of rare and vulnerable species as 'precious'. It can be sensitive information, please keep it safe if you're lucky enough to have it.
I'd also draw your attention to the first post of this thread as regards giving locational info for different species.
Mike.
I'm afraid there are many instances where orchids have recently fallen foul of plant poaching and it continues to remain a real threat even to the seemingly unglamorous species impossible to cultivate outside their specialised habitats. Even species such as the Bog orchid have been lost from sites and indeed entire counties where small and vulnerable populations are easily extirpated. As such, I would not describe maintaining discretion when publicising the details for the sites of rare and vulnerable species as 'precious'. It can be sensitive information, please keep it safe if you're lucky enough to have it.
I'd also draw your attention to the first post of this thread as regards giving locational info for different species.
Mike.
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Thanks for your advice Mike and I am well aware of thefts from sites. I do however favour a more open approach to orchid sites and although I am quite happy to talk about many of them openly, as you rightly say there are some rather more sensitive than others. I saw some lovely wasp orchids in Warwickshire yesterday, but I have heard of colonies in Oxford, anyone know these?
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