Around 50 species of orchids grow in the UK. With patience and perseverance, ten or more can be found around Rye.
The floral firework display begins in April and continues into the summer. Here are some of the species to look out for:
Early-purple orchid
Flowers in April/May.
Reasonably common in old woodlands and hedgerows, often found growing amongst bluebells. Its stunning beauty contrasts with its aroma, which is said to put one in mind of tom-cat urine!
Bee Orchid
Flowers in May/June.
Sometimes abundant in open, sunny grassland on sand and gravel. Look for them at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Camber dunes. The flower mimics a female bee in order to attract male bees, tricking them into helping pollination.
Pyramidal Orchid
Flowers in May/June.
Spectacular displays of its conical pink flowers can be seen at the north end of Castle Water, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. The flowers have a musky, foxy smell.
Common Spotted Orchid
Flowers in June/July.
Our most common orchid, found in woodland rides, damp meadows and roadside verges. It gets its name from its leaves, with large purplish spots, that grow in rosettes. It’s a variable species, flowers ranging from white to purple-ish, but most are pink.
Lizard Orchid
Flowers in June.
Very rarely found in tall calcareous grassland. The flowers smell strongly of goats, others say of sweaty socks! Take your pick. This brute grows up to a metre tall, but its leaves are often tatty and discoloured.
Autumn Lady’s-tresses
Flowers in August.
Found in short calcareous turf, sometimes in lawns and churchyards. It has diminutive, spiraling white flowers that can easily be missed. They can “go missing” for years on end, only to reappear, having lain dormant underground.
Other species of orchid found locally include Common Twayblade, Broad-leaved Helleborine, Marsh Helleborine and Southern Marsh Orchid.
Some orchid species are exceptionally rare, all are very special. They must never be trampled or picked.
Join the Sussex Wildlife Trust or the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve to support organisations that help protect orchids and other wildlife.
Image Credits: David Bentley .