Bryn Pydew 29th April 2018 (SH 81837 79796)

Back here again after three years and hoping to see the Green-winged Orchids said to grow here, but yet again there is only Early Purple Orchids - and they are barely unfurling. However another trip in late June to early July may be needed to see something more interesting if the latest edition of Wild Orchids of Britain is to be believed!

Mynydd Marian 29th April 2018 (SH 88908 77378)

And a return here as we are in the area. The Early Purple Orchids here are a bit more, but only a bit more, advanced than Bryn Pydew. There is a nice pink form though.

Loggerheads Country Park 5th May 2018 (SJ 19576 63070)

This was a family day out, not an orchid trip, but no need to waste the opportunity to have a look at the Early Purple Orchids seen a couple of years ago. They are there, in the same place, but while some are unfurling their petals and sepals, others are just pushing up a spike. Again, none to be seen elsewhere, other than this one spot.
An old record from the 1980s with a hand drawn map shows Frog Orchids here. I can find no sign of them this visit, but likely way too early - it's hard enough spotting them in flower, yet alone a few leaves poking through the earth.

Venus Pool 7th May 2018 (SJ 55005 06277)

There are reports on-line of good displays of Green-winged Orchids at various sites in the UK, so a return trip here to see what this population is like this year. Well, they are not here in their thousands, but certainly in their hundreds. Unfortunately this is a birding site, and to prevent the birds being freaked the orchid meadow is barb-wired off. Managed some photos though, but no nice variations.

Moel Findeg 12th May 2018 (SJ 20768 61130)

The first new site of the year. Not far from Loggerheads, its a bit odd in that much of the hill is very acidy peat with heather and bilberry, but the summit is typical limestone. We find the Early Purple Orchids growing in the wreckage of last year's bracken. Some nice tall plants and despite numbering perhaps just 25 spikes there is some nice colour variation.

Graig near Eryrys 14th May 2018 (SJ 20309 56903)

Our second climb up here, and it is worth it not only for the Early Purple Orchids but also for the views across Denbighshire. They grow all over the top of the hill singly or in small groups, but sadly they lack variation in colour here - apart from one possible pink flower, which hasn't really opening. There is one massive specimen that is only just pushing up a spike. This will look terrific when in flower. It is odd that they grow only on the hilltop (and some on the path leading up there) and down in the dense hedging alongside the roadside below - apart from the soil these are contrasting habitats for what must be regarded as a single population.
A quick look at the Eryrys quarry was disappointing. No Frog Orchids showing apart from a few possible leaves where the `big boys' grow.

Eades Meadow 18th May 2018 (SO 98160 64770)

Eades Meadow, near Droitwich in Worcestershire, is a gem - a Wonderland of Green-winged Orchids of all sizes, colours and patterns. There must be 10,000, but you cannot get to see all in close-up. The meadow is only open periodically, when a footpath is mowed so visitors do not stray across the grass trampling young and later flowering plants. That said you can see more than enough from the footpath. Luckily the gates are opened for the orchid season. The GWOs come in shades of deep purple down to pale pink, and pale-lipped bicoloured flowers abound; this is a sight and a site not to be missed.
To cap it all we met and chatted to a local man, a Mr Eades who reckoned he could be descended from Farmer Eades who owned the meadow in the 17th century!