The dry, warm spring this year has led to an exceptional display of scarce orchids at a Norfolk Wildlife Trust nature reserve in south Norfolk.
This year's count of green winged orchids at
NWT New Buckenham Common was a record breaking 2,300, the highest since 2002 and about 1,000 up on previous years.
Green winged orchids as susceptible to wet weather as it rots their root systems, and so the recent warm weather has benefitted these beautiful flowers.
One of the most sizeable areas of common land in South Norfolk, NWT New Buckenham Common’s history can be traced back to the 12th century. Norfolk Wildlife Trust has cleared scrub on the site, which has benefitted the orchids.
Breckland Reserves Manager, Darrell Stevens explained: “green winged orchid seeds are very fine, like dust, and so need newly-cleared areas in which to germinate. We also graze the site with cattle on this nature reserve and they keep the sward open. This is a fantastic display of orchids, which are scarce in Norfolk and nationally and the most seen on the reserve for 12 years.”
To get to NWT New Buckenham Common, leave Norwich on the B1113 road heading south west for 20km. The road bisects the common before New Buckenham village. Turn right into the car park beside the swings just before entering the village. The site is open access, but walkers must keep dogs on a short lead March-July to avoid disturbance.