2014 UK Orchids (1 Viewer)

[innazone]

Let's hope this means they are planning to take a little more care of the site in future,

BW

Nick

Just received the attached email from Natural England regarding the grazing regime at Ladle Hill.

 

[Xenya]

Hi, Simon,
Many thanks for your reply and advice. I am going near Newbury next week, so will try to see the GFHs. will also go and look for the VHs at Four Marks - timing-wise, when do you think would be best - is it a bit early yet?
thanks,
Nicky

 

[Simon1953]

Nicky,
Last year I photo'd VHs in August (I have pics from 3rd and 12th August) in which case you'd need to wait a bit - on the other hand Rich (post 858 above) seems to be finding them already...

Simon

 

[ionh]

Violet Helleborine

Checked the Violet Helleborine colony in Brickett Wood (Herts) last week, could only find a couple of plants, one looking very robust and getting ready to put on a good flower spike. Checked again this week, it's now a stick covered in mollusc slime. Only one obvious plant, in bud, a very much poorer showing than last year.

First BLH in flower at Stockers Lake.

 

[muba]

There are always loads of flies at Dune helle sites. Especially midges. They seem to grow at sites which are fly attractive. If you are going to Williamston near Alston where the Dune helles are now perfect take insect repellent as they'll eat you alive if you don't.

We got 'attacked' by a squadron of tiny little insects at Close House, but just itchy rather than bitten

 

[muba]

Northumberia

The Lindisfarne Helleborines were very nearly over last Wednesday (16th), but managed to find 9 or so, some with the highest flowers open. The wind and weather were not the best for photography.

 

[leptochila]

Broad-leaved Helleborines

Did a tour of all the populations I know around Aberystwyth starting with a very nice viridiflora at the edge of the playing fields. Unfortunately it was behind a high chain-link fence but close enough to get decent shots of the inflorescence. Most still in bud but plenty scattered around the university campus. I found another viridiflora in a pine plantation there that's not quite out yet.

Mike

 

[muba]

Northumbria

By contrast, the Tyne Helleborines at Close House, Wylam, were mostly in their prime on Thursday (17th), but showed signs of rapid self-pollination, so if you are thinking of going there make it sooner than later. I gave up counting at 100 of them. There was one specimen that was 95cm tall with 40+ individual flowers.

 

[slatts]

Just received the attached email from Natural England regarding the grazing regime at Ladle Hill.

'Thank you for your email expressing your concern with regard to the grazing regime on Ladle Hill SSSI

A period of spring grazing was allowed to reduce the amount of grass and other rank vegetation that was present on the site earlier in the year as a result of the mild wet winter. This applied not just to the central section of the hill fort but across other areas of the SSSI. The altered grazing regime is for a single season and will be followed with autumn and winter grazing to retain the short sward. The sheep have been removed and the grazing cycle will revert the late season one. Orchids, as geophytes, will recover and a range of flowering calcareous grassland indicator species along with some burnt-tip orchids can be found on the site

Management of the grassland site does require an active approach and occasionally altering the grazing regime will have long term benefits for different elements of the sward. I can assure you that the spring grazing will not be a standard management practice. I hope that you will be able visit the site next year and spot many different plants'

Yours sincerely

Harold Makant

I got the same reply from Harold. I have sent him a reply to say that this was NOT spring grazing. It was summer grazing and that they screwed up.

 

[slatts]

Xenya,

There is a good site for Green Flowered Helles just south of Newbury beside the A343. I counted c160 plants there last week (down on the 240 or so I counted last year). They still needed a week or 10 days to come into flower - but should be looking good next week.

The GFHs are on both verges of the road - mostly between the gateway (and small layby) into the National Trust's Chase nature reserve and the cross-roads to the South where the minor road to Penwood/Woolton Hill crosses the A343.

Take care if you visit. Wear a high-vis tabard or something as the road is a busy one!

As for Violet Helles - try Telegraph Lane and Blackberry Lane at Four Marks. There are usually several clumps on the verges there. Also the lane near the Garden Centre (I can't remember its name - Garth-something, I think).

There's an old railway embankment at Funtley north of Fareham. I've always found a few Violet helle here. On the west side of the old embankment about SU 554 081. About as close as you can get from Gosport.

 

[slatts]

We got 'attacked' by a squadron of tiny little insects at Close House, but just itchy rather than bitten

Hehe. You are lucky. The devils at Williamston flew up my shorts and got me on the backside. Just about the only place I didn't put insect repellent!

 

[muba]

Northumbria 3

The DRH were perhaps at their peak a week ago at Bishop Middleham. I have never been there before and was literally bowled over by the profusion of DRH there. So much easier to take photos there there than on Great Orme which requires either a spot of rock climbing or lying down on the Marine Drive and hoping no cars are approaching!

 

[slatts]

The DRH were perhaps at their peak a week ago at Bishop Markham. I have never been there before and was literally bowled over by the profusion of DRH there. So much easier to take photos there there than on Great Orme which requires either a spot of rock climbing or lying down on the Marine Drive and hoping no cars are approaching!

Bishop Middleham? They still looked good there though. Great group too.

 

[muba]

Bishop Middleham? They still looked good there though. Great group too.

Original post corrected!

 

[prhodes]

Warburg

The path side Violet is starting to open (lowest flower), although with some apparent slug damage. Nearby Broad-leaved now in flower.

 

[muba]

This site needs an orchid forum for people who are more interested in chat about orchids than in general plant identification.

I am more than happy with this thread as it is; orchids being my main interest on the forum. If there were more than one orchid thread going I would be swapping frm one to the other, but as it is now I can just keep this one open and not miss any posts. Lazy way of doing things, but easiest is often best.

 

[rmielcarek]

Epipactis ID

A question for the Epipactis experts on here.

I understand that both Violet and Broad-leaved helleborines can show a purple base to the stem. Is there any significance to the colour and shape of the tiny sheathing leaf an inch or so above the base?

Rich M

 

[Simon1953]

Just back in from a hot day at Noar Hill. A few frogs still looking reasonable and plenty of Pyramidals (but well past their best really). A few Musks still just in flower but, again, past their best. Certainly a larger population there than at Ham Hill SSSI (Wilts). I must try to go earlier next year.

 

[prevell]

Why would you lie down on Marine Drive ? You had better get an angle finder !

Peter

 

[leptochila]

Bog Orchids

In full flower at a couple of remote bogs/flushes in Ceredigion today. 4 spikes at Bryn Lluestydd and 1 at Alltgoch-y-Myndd. Last year I saw 2 and 4 respectively. Finally got the Sundew money shot!

Mike