Orchids at the quarry
A visit to a nature reserve to hunt down the wild orchids
Wild orchids are among the most beautiful and sometimes very rare of the plant species. But we are very fortunate in the UK to have around 52 wild orchid species growing on nature reserves that protect these wonderful plants.
Different orchids can flower between spring to late summer. So you’re sure to always catch one, if you know where to look. But summertime is the very best time of all to spot them.
The nature reserve
The nature reserve that I visited was established in 2003 and is the site of an old limestone quarry. Sheep are grazed here at certain times and the site is managed to aid the restoration of the habitats and the species of flora and fauna that live here.
There are two habitats at play here. Limestone grassland and wetland scrub down in the old quarry. Both play a huge part in attracting the flora and fauna and are so valuable, in terms of creating an ecosystem to support a wide range of biodiversity.
Great crested newts are one of the most important species here and habitats have been…
