Ten years of management for flowers (and fungi) has paid off this year with record numbers of Orchids. Starting with 14 Common Spotted Orchids in 2011 (and only 11 in 2012) we have reached the dizzy heights, so far this year, of 480 Common Spotteds and a further 26 Orchids from four other species making 506 orchids in total. The other 26 are 21 Broad-leaved Helleborine, 2 Twayblades, 2 Heath Spotted and 1 Bee Orchid. Also from having Orchids in only two fields we now have them in all four plus several including a Twayblade and a Bee Orchid outside the field areas. The increase from last year is already more than 60% although it is true that the dry April helped us to spot Orchid rosettes that might otherwise have been missed with greater grass growth. A number of those will not manage to flower and could have remained uncounted in previous years. I think that next year I won't be caging the Common Spotteds to protect them from deer and rabbits - I'll just protect the more unusual species and specimens.
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