Chapel Bank Orchids

I made a visit to our Chapel Bank Nature Reserve today, looking for the orchids, I found these special orchids,

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Early Purple Orchid, some 4 year old seedlings were also found, they should flower in about 3 years, as it takes about 7 years for the Early Purple to flower from seed.

The original group first found as a single plant in 1992 are still present in the same spot.

One of the more recent plants is in the later stages of bud, and should be in flower in a week or so.

New Small Blue Scrapes

With help from the Dowlands Countryside Management Project 2 new scrapes have been put in along the cutting on Hutchinsons Bank Nature Reserve, these will improve the Small Blue butterfly habitat.