Gop Hill 1st May 2021 (SJ 08790 80005)

I hadn`t visited here in 2020. An early visit would have contravened the rather restrictive Welsh covid rules, and a late visit was ruled out because of reports that the site was being actively grazed and the Lady`s-tresses in flower were decimated. Approaching the hill I could see horses there, and as we passed the stile entrance there was plenty of evidence that perhaps the entire field of the Grand national could have been resident there for a couple weeks. I was expecting to find further grazing damage, but actually found a surprising number of Green-winged Orchids in a swathe across the hillside. Look carefully and you will find the odd near-white flower, pale pinks, and a good range of shades of purple. The story is quite different for the Early Purple Orchids here. Once occupying the hillside below the GWOs they are limited to some fifty flowering plants around the small old quarry on the eastern edge.

Y Parc, 1st May 2021 (SJ 17578 70860)

Having been here in June last year it is a return to see the Early Purple Orchids in full bloom. About 40 of them are in flower, all in a small glade in the woodland path. No real variations to report, just that they look great in the dappled sunlight.

Minera Quarry, 23rd May 2021 (SJ 25156 52172)

It has a good three weeks later that the Early Purple Orchids are in flower here than other North Wales localities. Most are near the entrance to the quarry, but more seem to be colonising the grassland in the centre. Some nice colour variations to be found. The Frog Orchids are also starting to flower including one with last year`s seed head still attached. Does that mean some fertile seed has been distributed?

Talacre Dunes, 26th May 2021 (SJ 11308 84954)

We are here one month earlier than last year in order to get a better look at the Early Marsh Orchids. I am not disappointed with the show of some fine, deep pink Var incarnatas. There are also some early flowering Northern Marsh Orchids too, including one with last year`s seed head still attached showing how tall they will grow.

We arrived here at a high spring tide and and could hear the waves crashing onto the beach from within the dunes. Going to have a look we are surprised to see the lighthouse as an island; normally when we have been here you could walk out to it.

Silverdale Lots, 27th May 2021 (SD 45790 75156)

The second new orchid locality of the season, and one I had been aware of for a few years. I had been told that it was better than Gop Hill, but I would say they are rivals. A fair distance to travel to for me, but easy access even if you have to squeeze sideways through the gaps in the stone walls. Plenty of Green-winged Orchids and Early Purple Orchids, generally keeping their distance from each other. There is a good range of GWO flower colour, and I found two Early Purple var alba by straying off the path, but being very careful where I trod.

There were a couple of very large Early Purple Orchids, photos 1 and 2 in the row above, that were twice the size of any of the others. I never seriously considered whether these were hybrids with the Green-winged, showing hybrid vigour as this has never been verified as occurring. However, the flowers however are typical EPO, yet the colour is more GWO and most noticeably the leaves lack any spotting whatsoever. Apart from being an exceptionally mature plant, another explanation is polyploidy.

And when you have finished here, there is a great little cafe and take away just around the corner.

Trowbarrow Quarry, 27th May 2021(SD 48092 75870)

A few miles from Silverdale is this former limestone quarry, whose info blurb mentions Fly Orchids. Worth a try? You bet! Unfortunately a quarry wide search yields none, and a butterfly recorder tells us that there were 2 in 2020 and 2019 just 1; and all in different parts of the quarry. The orchids here are not yet in flower, the nearest being one of the numerous Common Twayblades. There are Broad-leaved Helleborines beneath quarry sides in leaf, and of course, some Common Spotted Orchid rosettes to be seen. At the far end, protected by a rabbit fence, is a Bee Orchid enclave.

Gait Barrow, 27th May 2021 (SD 48203 77450)

We come here to see the Lady Slipper Orchids, and all we see is a single Early Purple Orchid! Actually there are a reduced number of LSOs, and none will be producing flowers this year. Apparently they were badly affected by a spell of drought two years ago.

Haskayne Cutting, 29th May 2021 (SD 35685 08848)

The first time I was here in early July there there was Early Marsh Orchids and some well gone over purple flowered Dacts that defied identification. Since then I have seen that they are Southern March Orchids, and at this date they are at their best with no sign of EMOs. Rather ironic that those perhaps flower later. Two things strike me about the SMOs growing here. They are much darker coloured than is usual, and despite some difference in lip shape they are fairly uniform in appearance. This site is where Haskayne railway station was situated, with the track level under water and tree covered. As it was abandoned some 50 years ago, and unlikely to have any imported soil these orchids must have self colonised. Does the uniformity of appearance suggest just one orchid originally colonised and these now are it descendants? Gowy Woods in Cheshire also has a newish colony of the same species with numbers steadily growing year after year.

Llay Industrial Estate, 30th May 2021 (SJ 32295 56601)

We are a bit early for these and they are still in bud mainly. but much of the verge has been cut, and it will be only later to see how this has affected the Bee Orchids.