Second flush of orchids doing well

June is always a good month to see Common Spotted Orchids, Bee Orchids and Pyramidal Orchids but even I was surprised to discover a thriving patch of around 15 Fragrant Orchids on this month’s workparty. Fragrant has been recorded in the past but hasn’t been seen up there for decades so it’s a great sign to see them coming back. If you do go to look for them then be very careful because there are likely to be lots of smaller plants around the obvious ones.

We counted around 50 Bee Orchids mainly in slope 4 (the one beyond the lone beech tree) and mostly along the top path, with a scattering lower down. If you do go in there watch out for the electric fence that has been put in to contain the sheep as we continue the summer strip-grazing policy!