Orchids are a fascinating group of plants. Of the fifty-something species of orchid in the UK, very few could be regarded as common – and some are actually among our rarest plants.

Many species are rare because they need specific habitats – habitats we have lost much of in recent decades. Some require particular insects to pollinate them, but those insects are rare too. Most orchid seeds also need to be infected with a mycorrhizal fungus, which supplies them with the nutrients they need to successfully germinate. Even then, once germinated, it can take years before any leaves appear. 

These intricate relationships between plant, fungus and insect highlight just how specific the conditions must be for orchids to thrive. A good number and variety of orchids is often a sign that a grassland has been long-established and undisturbed.

Before I became the ranger for Lyscombe, I was fortunate to be a warden for nature reserves such as Fontmell Down, Girdlers Coppice, and Bracketts Coppice – all of which boast impressive numbers of orchids, including some rarer species like the bird’s-nest orchid, and violet and white helleborines. So, I was a little concerned that, working at Lyscombe, I wouldn’t get my usual orchid fix each summer.

However, I needn’t have worried – Lyscombe holds its own, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by my discoveries so far this year.

The first species I stumbled upon back in April, while surveying for butterflies on the slopes of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), was the early purple orchid (Orchis mascula). Winter grazing by cattle had opened up the thick sward just enough for these purple beauties to push through.

Then in May, I stumbled across a single common twayblade (Neottia ovata) amongst the wild garlic in the woods. 

Twayblades are often overlooked, they’re not bright-coloured show-offs like most other orchids. Their small, delicate flowers are light green, making them tricky to spot. It’s often their two large, round basal leaves that catch the eye first. I’m sure there are many more on site than the one I spotted.

So far, so good – two species before summer had even kicked in. By mid-June, some areas of the nature reserve were awash with several different species. The area known as Lyscombe Bottom was particularly impressive. These fields, encircled by the steep slopes of the chalk downland, are some of the most species-rich on the nature reserve, thanks to their conversion from arable land to wildflower meadows several years ago using seed from Salisbury Plain.

Common-spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) are frequent in these fields, and so are pyramidal orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis). These two species can also be found on the surrounding chalk downland slopes.

A wonderful surprise was finding hundreds of bee orchids (Ophrys apifera) in these bottom fields – I had never seen so many! The number of bee orchids can naturally fluctuate a lot from year to year, so let’s hope we see high numbers again next year.

The final species to be found (so far) is the southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), with a handful spotted in the bottom fields – perhaps indicating damper areas of the grassland.

Six species of orchid isn’t bad at all, and there’s a good chance that more may be found as the cattle continue to graze the chalk downland. Grazing reduces the dominance of grasses, opens up the sward, and keeps it low – all of which creates more opportunities for wildflowers like orchids to flourish. There are previous records of fragrant orchids (Gymnadenia conopsea) and autumn lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) at Lyscombe, so there’s plenty to keep searching for.

Finding orchids on SSSI downland or in meadows restored decades ago is one thing – but how exciting will it be to spot the first orchids as they emerge in the large, improved pasture fields or former arable land? As the years go by, nutrients in the soil will diminish, mycorrhizal fungal networks will establish themselves, and seed will be spread – mechanically by us, but also by the livestock. Eventually, we should see swathes of orchids across Lyscombe – and who knows, maybe even a few more species to add to the list.

Learn more about our plans for Lyscombe