The hunt for the Green Winged Orchid.

Despite this species being relatively common and widespread, I have not seen this growing in the U.K. Only in Corfu, of all places, have I seen it in the wild. This is probably because it is one of the earliest orchids in flower, and I don't get motivated until the various species of orchids really get going. This year I am determined to rectify this.

25th April Bryn Pydew and Mynydd Marian

A tip off suggested that Green Winged Orchids were abundant, in flower and obvious at Bryn Pydew nature reserve near Llandudno. This is the site of an old quarry and a mix of wooded slopes, limestone pavement and the old quarry. We saw plenty of purple, but it was all Early Purple Orchids, albeit with some fine specimens easily identified by their blotched leaves..
So afterwards we called at Mynydd Marion near Old Colwyn, where again GWO are said to flower. We faile here last year and did so again this year. There were abundant EPO, both on top of the hill, and below the quarry rock face.

26th April Nant Mawr and Llynclys

A bit of research suggest a few localities in the old limestone areas south of Oswestry. Actually finding some of these proved problematic, but wherever we traipsed all we found were more Early Purple Orchids and a few Twayblades with the flower stalk just emerging.

27th April Localities near Mold

Further research gave some spots where records of GWOs have been made in the limestone country north west of Mold. At Pantymwyn the possible site seems to have been taken over by impenetrable sloe thickets criss-crossed by footpaths. Again all we found were Early Purple Orchids.
At Cilcain the field had also changed, but this time planted purposefully more ornamental trees and no orchids at all were seen.

27th April Gop Hill

As a last resort after the lack of success we headed for Gop Hill near Prestatyn. This is a hillside covered with gorse, and in the sunshine the scent of those flowers was particularly strong. At first all we saw were Early Purple Orchids, going a bit higher up the hillside the ground grass was full of Green Winged Orchids, all rather stunted, but in a good range of colours from deepest purple where the veins were hard to discern down to pale pink. The top of this hill is topped with what is claimed to be the second largest prehistoric mound in the U.K. and which is claimed to be the site of Boudica's burial. There is no evidence at all to support this claim!