Collapse of Orchid population

Perhaps that is too apocalyptic an opinion of this year so far. Here are the stats. Orchids recorded as of June 6 - 170. Orchids recorded in 2023 by June 6 - 477. We are at 36% of last year's figure (so far) and that is after 11 years of increases every year. We went on to record 945 Orchids last year so using the same stats we might get to 340 or so which in effect takes us back to the 2020 numbers. I have no clear idea of why numbers should have declined for the first time but one important factor must be the rabbit population which is at an all time high here. There has been no mixamatosis for a few years and the rabbit population has soared and you can see that much of the field now has a much shorter sward. Deer populations have also increased substantially and they regualarly graze the fields in numbers. However I now have two deer and rabbit proof areas and even here I would say that orchid populations are down from last year so it may be that weather is also a factor. I am confident that populations will recover and look forward to breaching the 1,000 orchid mark soon. Graph at the top shows total orchid numbers up to 2023 and the total so far in 2024.