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Orchids in the Midlands (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Adey Baker
- Start date
Thanks for info - so I would be as well going a bit further into Leics where I am more likely to see the VH. I am Peak District but don't mind a longer journey if we can make a day of it and have a good walk too. Due to volcanic ash we have decided to look at a holiday in this country so looking at somewhere near Parsonage Down for Burnt Tip Orchid which looks beautiful in photos and I've never seen it. Do you think the orchids have caught up with their flowering times, as I think the BT is start of June? Trying to see a few new Orchids and Helleborines this year - and re-visit some of my 'finds' so far.
Ladybee
Hi
I would have thought the first week of June was fine? Normally I would think probably last week of May but either should do.
If you dont mind deviating off your path on the way to Wiltshire then you should be able to get to grips or have a search for the following species in Oxon/Bucks Chilterns which should be in flower:
Monkey Orchid,
Lady Orchid,
Lady x Monkey Hybrid,
Military Orchid,
Greater Butterfly Orchid,
Fly Orchid,
White Helleborine,
Birds Nest Orchid,
Early Marsh Orchid,
Southern Marsh Orchid,
Narrow Leaved Marsh Orchid,
All on Wildlife Trust reserves. A very good reason why all interested in this thread should support the (your local) wildlife trust if you dont already :t:
http://www.bbowt.org.uk/v.asp?level2id=5842&depth=1&rootid=5842
It is worth joining BBOWT for the free reserves handbook alone, which is well illustrated with decent maps, details and photos of about 80 reserves across the three counties (including all the orchids mentioned above, and more).
And Fragrant Orchid should be starting to come through on Parsonage as well.
I would have thought the first week of June was fine? Normally I would think probably last week of May but either should do.
If you dont mind deviating off your path on the way to Wiltshire then you should be able to get to grips or have a search for the following species in Oxon/Bucks Chilterns which should be in flower:
Monkey Orchid,
Lady Orchid,
Lady x Monkey Hybrid,
Military Orchid,
Greater Butterfly Orchid,
Fly Orchid,
White Helleborine,
Birds Nest Orchid,
Early Marsh Orchid,
Southern Marsh Orchid,
Narrow Leaved Marsh Orchid,
All on Wildlife Trust reserves. A very good reason why all interested in this thread should support the (your local) wildlife trust if you dont already :t:
http://www.bbowt.org.uk/v.asp?level2id=5842&depth=1&rootid=5842
It is worth joining BBOWT for the free reserves handbook alone, which is well illustrated with decent maps, details and photos of about 80 reserves across the three counties (including all the orchids mentioned above, and more).
And Fragrant Orchid should be starting to come through on Parsonage as well.
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Thanks Gareth, we just might do that - there are several orchids on your list that I can't see here. We visited the early purples in Derbyshire today and they seem to be at least 16 days behind last year, but this is only my second year of visiting them so I can't be sure that they are later than usual.
Ladybee
ps I am a member of our wildlife trust, will have a look at the bbowt.
Ladybee
ps I am a member of our wildlife trust, will have a look at the bbowt.
James Hunter
Well-known member
It is a late year this year, and welcome to the world of orchids!! Here in Kent we are about 2 weeks behind the last 18 years I have been actively 'orchiding'
Cheers
James
Cheers
James
re Reserves guide,
I cannot see it on their website, but you may be able to buy it off them (especially if you mention you are a trust member) as it has a £12.95 tag on the back, published last year, and more detailed than the reserves map i linked to earlier, obviously.
Im sure James is right with timing, I havent been out looking for orchids that much, but I have seen my first Ophrys in flower so the season will no doubt catch up a bit now the hot weather has arrived.
Good luck,
Went to Skegness today and there were two fields of Green Winged Orchids, some were just starting to go over. There were lots of colour variations including one proper bi-colour, several baby pinks and blush pinks and white, also different markings. I could have spent all day there - the 'chauffeur' says he will take a chair and picnic to the next site I visit as he has little interest in the plants, although he has helped me with some 'finds'.
Ghostly Vision
Well-known member
LadyBee
If you pm me I can arrange to take you to a Burnt tip site much closer to your home. Last year it had nearly 500 plants including some pure white ones.
I do not give th esite out but do offer to guide people for free.
There are also Early purple Frog and Fly there in good numbers.
Regards
Sean
If you pm me I can arrange to take you to a Burnt tip site much closer to your home. Last year it had nearly 500 plants including some pure white ones.
I do not give th esite out but do offer to guide people for free.
There are also Early purple Frog and Fly there in good numbers.
Regards
Sean
davidearlgray
davidearlgray
Cheers John for the info, I found at least ten Sword-leaved Helleborines on-site!
I have just posted a couple of shots of the SL Hells on my blog!
Cheers,
Dave.
http://davidearlgray.blogspot.com/
lizard orchid
Well-known member
Dear Dave,
I would be interested to hear where you got all ten as we did not get that many on the HOS meeting I was leading last weekend there. Best to PM me. Thanks.
Brian Laney.
lizard orchid
Well-known member
take a hammer if go to Warks man orchid site
Dear all,
As mentioned in another thread started by Sean, if any of you visit the Warks man orchid please take a hammer with you. If you remove the round cages to photograph the Man orchids hammer back in the canes and the metal pegs at the base of the rounded cages please. One year someone did not put the cages back in properly or in the right place and we lost a few plants this way to rabbits.
Two spikes have failed this year due to the late frosts this year.
Brian Laney.
Dear all,
As mentioned in another thread started by Sean, if any of you visit the Warks man orchid please take a hammer with you. If you remove the round cages to photograph the Man orchids hammer back in the canes and the metal pegs at the base of the rounded cages please. One year someone did not put the cages back in properly or in the right place and we lost a few plants this way to rabbits.
Two spikes have failed this year due to the late frosts this year.
Brian Laney.
lizard orchid
Well-known member
British Orchid talk part two at Birdfair
Dear All,
Just to let you know I am doing part two of my orchid talk at the Birdfair this year on the Saturday. The marquee was packed out last year and one of my friends could not get in. So I hope to see some of you there.
I am there at the fair for the three days doing the usual piece on the naturalised stick insects of the UK on the Buglife stand.
But still no sign of any botanical stands at the fair for this year yet. BSBI did apply but might not have got in this year. Will chase up and find out.
Brian Laney.
Dear All,
Just to let you know I am doing part two of my orchid talk at the Birdfair this year on the Saturday. The marquee was packed out last year and one of my friends could not get in. So I hope to see some of you there.
I am there at the fair for the three days doing the usual piece on the naturalised stick insects of the UK on the Buglife stand.
But still no sign of any botanical stands at the fair for this year yet. BSBI did apply but might not have got in this year. Will chase up and find out.
Brian Laney.
Aother good day - found (with help) the man-orchids and greater butterfly beginning to flower in South Warwickshire. Don't worry - I brought a hammer!
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lizard orchid
Well-known member
Thanks Zeffer,
I have got to get some more chicken wire as went to site this evening and found some more Greater Butterflys in bud so need to protect them from rabbits.
