Orchids

Orchids are probably our most highly celebrated, beautiful and wonderfully varied family of flowers. David Chapman examines the key features of our native orchids, as well as where and when to look for them...

What is an orchid?

Marsh helleborine

The most obvious feature of an orchid is its stem with a spike of flowers towards the top. Where present, the leaves of orchids are always straight with parallel veins, but these characteristics are also present in other species of flower, such as autumn squill, lilies and wild garlic. To be sure we have an orchid we must take a closer look at the individual flowers.

Orchid flowers comprise three petals, slightly behind which are three sepals. The lower (middle) petal is often larger and more complex than the others, and it is the shape and size of this petal which generally identifies the orchid. Joining the flower to the stem is a swollen tube which contains the ovary. This is known as an ‘inferior ovary’ because it sits behind the flower.

Rather frustratingly, not all orchids are called orchids! Out of the 50 or-so orchids in Britain, 11 feature one-sided flower spikes and are known as helleborines, two have paired leaves and are called twayblades, and four are called lady’s-tresses because their flowers have a plaited form.

Where do orchids grow?

Common spotted orchids at Clattinger Farm in Wiltshire

Orchids can be found throughout Britain. More species tend to favour chalk and limestone over other types of rock, and more types are found in the south-east of England than anywhere else. Most grow in meadows, though some can be found in woodlands or on roadside verges, dunes and marshland. 

Like most wildflowers, orchids grow best in unfertilised ground because there is less competition from more dominant species of grass and scrub. Orchid-rich meadows are not as common as they once were; most of the best remaining sites are on nature reserves where some form of long-term management, such as conservation grazing, is used to prevent scrub taking over. 

When do orchids flower?

The earliest orchids such as early spider, green-winged, early purple and bird’s-nest, occur from mid-to late-April, but the season really kicks off in mid-May and continues through to the end of July. After this, the number of varieties reduces significantly, ending with the aptly named autumn lady’s-tresses in mid-September.

Orchid hot spots

Here, I will talk about a few really good locations I have visited, and give a flavour of what can be seen there.

• Clarke’s Pool Meadow (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust) near Lydney. The reserve comprises two small hay meadows featuring a good variety of wildflowers, but the stars of the show in late April are the 45,000 green-winged orchids! The nearest Club campsite is Cheltenham Racecourse.
• Mount Caburn (National Nature Reserve) in East Sussex, accessible by footpath from Glynde or Lewes. This is the best place I have ever found for burnt orchids, which bloom in their hundreds in early May. Head into the valley to the north-west of the hill fort and find the south-facing slope. Close to Brighton Club Campsite.
• Homefield Wood (Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust), in Buckinghamshire, near Henley-on-Thames. A lovely mix of woodland and meadow which is a walkable distance from Henley Four Oaks Club Campsite. This is one of only two places in Britain to see the military orchid, and in late-May I also saw fly, bee, common spotted and greater butterfly orchids.
• Gait Barrows (National Nature Reserve), near Silverdale in Lancashire. This is one of the sites where lady’s slipper orchids have been reintroduced. In late May, signposts will direct you to these spectacularly large, shapely and colourful flowers. Other orchids include common spotted, northern marsh and fragrant. The nearest Club campsite is Kendal. 
• Box Hill (National Trust), near Dorking in Surrey. A chalk escarpment on the North Downs, famous for its orchids. This site yields up to 17 species through the spring and summer, reaching a peak in mid-June. Look out for bee, fragrant, pyramidal and some helleborines. In late May I saw bird’s-nest, man and common spotted orchids. The nearest Club Site is Alderstead Heath.
• Waitby Greenriggs (Cumbria Wildlife Trust), near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria. An old railway cutting at which, in mid-June, I saw more species than at any other location I have ever visited. Orchids include lesser butterfly, fragrant, fly, northern marsh, common spotted, many hybrids of northern marsh and common spotted, common twayblade and marsh helleborine. The nearest Club campsite is Hawes.
• Clattinger Farm (Wiltshire Wildlife Trust), near Cricklade in Wiltshire. In mid-June the meadow at Clattinger Farm is a riot of colour featuring an array of common wildflowers and an astonishing number of orchids. The most common orchids are common spotted, which come in a number of colour variants. Also seen here are southern marsh, early marsh, burnt and heath spotted orchids. The nearest Club campsite is Cirencester Park.

Mystery photo

Every month I will show you a photo of something from the natural world. It might be a close-up, or a subject that is difficult to identify. All you have to do is figure out what it is! Here is this month’s photo; no clues or prizes – it’s just for fun. (I will give you the answer next month, but if you can’t wait, log in to the Digital Magazine.)

The subject of April’s mystery photo was: snake’s head fritillary.