14.06.25 Orchids Headlining

It is high season for the meadow orchids right now and they are putting on a fine show in the Front Meadow. I have counted 47 Common spotted (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), 13 Southern marsh (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), and 3 Early marsh subspecies pulchella (Dactylorhiza incarnata).There are also two Pyramidal orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis) of a decent size just coming into flower, with the possibility of further, smaller ones that I haven’t noticed yet.

This is an increase, again, on the orchid numbers of the previous year, with one new species - Early marsh subspecies pulchella - bringing the total to four. The warm and very dry spring weather we had up to mid-May doesn’t seem to have had any adverse effect.

This is a relief because the word on the grapevine is that many orchid areas around the country are suffering from drought. We visited Pewsey Downs recently hoping to see masses of Burnt tip orchids (Neotinia ustulata) but saw not a single one. There are similar reports from other traditional strongholds throughout Wiltshire. Hopefully they can recover next year?

The meadow wildflowers are fine if a little

shorter than in wet years. The orchids are somewhat screened from casual dog-walker view by a canopy of Oxeye daisies and Cat’s ear. Then there are many Yellow rattles and several Ragged robins. Admittedly these are a wee bit stunted and frazzled. Colourful Orange hawkweeds are coming out, and there is promise of more than usual Knapweed flowering this year. I think they are gaining an advantage from the dryness.

The Back Meadow is very tall and lush, as usual nowadays, with grasses, Oxeye daisies and so on but there has been a modest increase in Common spotted orchids. There is also a lovely hybrid that has spotted leaves and the features of the Common spotted in patterning and shape of the labellum, but it is larger overall and very pink! A Pyramidal orchid is just opening.

Anthony.heys@sky.com