Gopa Woods 4th May 2019 (SH 93379 77118)

The quest for new sites continues with this hill just outside Abergele. As usual, the tracks only go uphill, and nothing much is to be seen, until we approach the summit; Castell y Gawr, another ancient hillfort. Both near the surviving ramparts and within there is a scattering of Early Purple Orchids. Someone or something has broken off a number of flower heads. The orchids were all pretty typical and unremarkable, but the views, the castle and the `batcave' made up for the climb.

Marle Hall Woods 4th May 2019 (SH 80001 78616)

Second stop of the day, and more Early Purple Orchids. Another hillclimb with great views of Conwy estuary, and perhaps treble the number of Gopa Woods, even if they are quite spread out. What was noticable here was that the woodland plants were more pale flowering, and those in the open a much richer deeper colour.

Minera Quarry 5th May 2019 (SJ 25156 52172)

Surprisingly we have not visited the actual quarry this early in the year, only the hill at the top by the village of Gwynfryn. Here the Early Purple Orchids are definitely a shadow of their former glory. Perhaps a change in grazing pattern is responsible. In the quarry, there are only a few of them to be seen on the slopes beyond the `pond'. However, the Broad-leaved Helleborines are thrusting up nicely.

Coed Cilygroeslwyd and Craig Adwy 12th May 2019 (SJ 12625 55303 and SJ 12119 54489)

The woods do not reveal any Bird's-nest Orchids (too early probably to spot them) and there are just a few Early Purple Orchids seen. These are an addition to the my orchid flora for the site, but oddly they grow in the path, and not at the side. However, the Greater Butterfly Orchids are in bud and should be in flower soon.
It's six years since we visited Craig Adwy (or Eyarth Rocks) and finding orchids turned into a long process, with wrong paths taken to avoid a climb to the very top. We had been told that Early Purple Orchids put on a good show here, so are determined to find them. When we do, I cannot claim they are a great show, but perhaps were have missed some dazzling display. We did cover a lot of ground. Here too, several flower heads have been snipped off and lie on the ground. I blame animals.

Minera Lead Mines 13th May 2019

Here more for a walk from the mines to the quarry and back, but we do see the Broad-leaved Helleborines poking out of the ground, but nothing else - not even a solitary Early Purple

Eryrys 17th May 2019 (SJ 20309 56903)

The question regarding this site is are the tall Frog Orchids going to return. They were last seen a couple of years ago and a dry spell had shrivelled them somewhat. The answer appears to be no. There are a couple of other spots where larger specimens could be found, and these are absent too. A shame, but there are still a fair number of small Frog Orchids to be found in their usual spots lurking in the shorter undergrowth. As usual, they are mostly unpigmented. Both Common Twayblades and Common Spotted Orchids can be seen just in leaf.

A walk to a nearby area that has had Frog Orchids before is also barren, while the Early Purple Orchids roadside and down the hill are in full bloom, but not quite as numerous as I remember.