Burnt Orchid

After a long day of survey in hot, windy conditions, we decided to go straight to a nearby site to hunt for Burnt Orchid. Access proved to be slightly more complicated than we expected, but we enjoyed walking through the beautiful chalk grassland studded with Fragrant Orchids, Quaking-grass and many other wonderful species, while enjoying views of the vineyard on the opposite side of the valley.

We eventually reached the area where Burnt Orchid had previously been recorded and spent some time walking over it methodically, but with gradually diminishing expectation of finding such a tiny orchid in such a large area of grassland. 

We were just about to give up when Pete spotted a single flowering spike, just coming into bloom. This colony comprises the late-flowering form and it seems likely we were a bit early, but so lovely to see it in absolutely perfect condition.