Peak District Updates
Hi everyone, just thought i would share a few quick updates on the Orchid state of play in the Peak District. For those of you unaware i am now in the third year of a comprehensive surveying scheme for the Peak's Orchids. Thanks to those of you who attended my last lecture on my findings so far. For those of you interested i will be presenting the talk again (with updates!) for the Cheadle Botanical Society on Friday 15th june. It will be held in the Cheadle Guildhall, Staffordshire Moorlands and begins at 7.30pm. E-mail me if you would like more info!
EARLY PURPLE ORCHIDS
Peaked three weeks ago.
A magnificent display at some sites, and appauling at others, mostly in the more exposed locations.
Alba's have cropped up at three sites this year:
Brassington Moor x1
Long Dale, Hartington x1
Cressbrook Dale, St. Peter's Rock x8
GREEN WINGED ORCHID
I have visited all four historically recorded sites (Middleton, Ible, Carsington, Rose End) this year to no avail.
BURNT ORCHID
Peaked last week.
At the main site i made a reasonable count of 196.
At the second site (which i only visited today) i counted only 15. A friend who visited last week counted 80, so i may have not been in the same area as her or the hoards of cows in the field may have eaten a large proportion!
BIRDS NEST ORCHID
Peaking this week.
Coming into bloom at all three sites now (Manifold, Wye & Lathkill Valleys) though in smaller numbers at the first two sites that in previous years.
FLY ORCHID
Peaking this week.
A good display at the main Peak sites. More impressive (to me anyway) is my discovery after days of exploration of three new sites around the Via Gellia including a further one where they have not been recorded in 30 years.
At the two main sites counts are 45 and 101.
- - - Plea for Help - - -
If anyone has any information on the Lesser Twayblade site in Snake Pass could you please let me know, as i do not know the exact location so my searches will probably have less chance of succeeding that a needle in a haystack.
And apologies for any spelling mistakes, i am typing this quickly before i head off to Kent for 4 days at 6am!
All the best, Byron.