Early purple orchid

We had to drive down to Attleborough for my second Covid vaccination, so took the opportunity to take another walk around Ashwellthorpe Lower Wood.  TonyG had mentioned that it was a good place for seeing Early Purple orchids. 

We weren't sure how easy they would be to spot, so took a slow walk around.  It is clearly also a good place for wild garlic - the ramsons were rampant!  In the far corner, there is an area that appears to be less visited, and there were lots of bluebells.  But what I really loved was that the woods were not the "monoculture" that is seen in so many bluebell woods.  Along with the bluebells, there were also still some wood anemone, some celandine, and of course lots of ramsons.

After leaving this far corner, we continued our slow walk, looking out for orchids.  We met another couple, who mentioned the orchids, and then a chap on his own who also talked about the orchids - we were clearly heading in the right direction.  We need not have worried about missing them - there were lots, once we got to the right area.

A lovely gentle walk, with lots of interest.  We will be back!

Now that I've got myself a bit more organised, I have loaded photos from this walk onto Flickr, and will be adding photos from the previous walks.