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Wild orchids
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with Roger Favell
We are fortunate in the Deepings area with having rather different habitats quite close by. At Barnack we have the ‘Hills & Holes National Nature Reserve’ which is basically a Roman/ medieval limestone quarry with the subsequent natural grassland and flora associated with the limestone. At Deeping itself we have ‘Deeping Lakes’, a group of worked out gravel quarries. Both of these sites have a wonderful flora, with orchids being probably some of the most attractive and interesting plants.
Common Spotted Orchid
Orchids are a very unusual plant as they are dependent on a fungus in the soil, and the fungus is dependent on the orchid. This is known ‘symbiosis’ -- two organisms co-existing for their mutual benefit. This is why, when people dug them up in the past for their gardens, they virtually never survived. All orchids are now protected by the 1981 Countryside Act, so it is illegal to dig them up.
The majority of orchids flower in the months of June and July. At Barnack ‘Hills & Holes’ there are a large number of orchids in flower during those summer months: the Common Spotted Orchid is very numerous with pink or lilac flowers marked with dark spots; the common Twayblade with green flowers; the Fragrant Orchid with bright pink flowers; the Pyramidal Orchid with tightly packed pink flowers; the Man Orchid with blue-green flowers; the Frog Orchid with small green flowers; and the Bee Orchid with pink sepals and a broad furry brown and yellow lip. The Bee Orchid mimics a bumble bee to attract a bee in order to pollinate the flower.
The Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve is developing into a very good site for orchids since quarrying ended nearly 20 years ago. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust management of the site, i.e. grazing, cutting and raking up of the grassland areas in late summer, after most flowers have finished, has allowed the spread of increasing varieties. The first to appear around the lake edges were Common Spotted Orchids, which were quickly followed by Early Marsh and Southern Marsh Orchids in the damp areas close to the lakes. There have also been small groups of Bee Orchids appearing on a sheltered bank above a pond.
In the last four years or so we have had Pyramidal Orchids appearing in increasing numbers around the grasslands.
Some people in the Deepings are lucky enough to have wild orchids growing in their gardens, particularly Common Spotted and Bee Orchids . The seeds of orchids are like dust and can be dispersed easily on the wind or peoples’ clothes.
Common Spotted Orchids Bee Orchid
Pyramidal Orchid
