Marsh Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia densiflora): Last night Mark Payne and I attended a talk at Chester Zoo's Ceder House on orchids.
This talk was given by Sean Cole, a top bloke whose passion for orchid outstrips my own. This talk was great, very engaging and very funny.
This inspired me to pick up my camera and get out and see some sexy orchids.
Last week I got a message from Mark with some directions to a great a sight, hundreds orchids in full flower at Ashton's and Neumann's Flashes.
Not too far from where I work and I was hoping to be able to nip down in the week, maybe on a lunch break or something.
But, alas too much survey and office work kept me busy!
The wet low-lying areas between the flashes, slat spoil heaps and reclaimed lime beds (the more exciting areas).
Here, amongst the variegated horsetail, yellow rattle and marsh pennywort, a bright pink jewel in the parks crown can be found.
The gorgeous marsh fragrant orchid with its soft pink to vivid purple colouration's and its sweet smelling fragrance, these orchids are great.
Typically an orchid of salt marshes and dunes, these are just as happy in a old reclaimed salt mine turned country park.
Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris): This is one of my favourite orchids.
The marsh helleborine has broad, oval leaves at the base of the stem, and narrower leaves higher up the reddish stem. The flower spike consists of a loose cluster of white flowers that have a white, frilly lip and reddish sepals which look like wings; they hang on reddish stalks.
Each flower contains male and female organs of reproduction. Flowers produce nectar and are pollinated by wasps, bees and Diptera.
So I was surprised to see a tiny any ant deep inside the orchids lip of the flower, presumably feeding on the nectar.
On a nice warm, not too bright day there's no better place to spend the first day of the weekend. Ashton’s and Neumann’s Flashes are part of a group of nine sites which make up the Northwich Woodlands. Created from what was once largely derelict land, the Woodlands now provides a rich and green environment to the north of Northwich town centre.
Its industrial history has left a legacy of unique site conditions that allow many unusual species to thrive; the presence of salt has allowed seaside plants to establish.
