Fragrant orchid

Just one Fragrant Orchid, Gymnadenia conopsea, found today at the nature reserve...but it represents a massive achievement. This is in a gently sloping field that was growing winter wheat for at least 45 years until the Wildlife Trust managed to buy it around 12 years ago. Since then we have been gradually persuading it to revert to chalk grassland. This orchid is the first to show in one of the experimental patches we sowed with wildflower seed harvested nearby in the Chilterns 10 years ago. Last year we sowed seed across the rest of the field and another one next to it, so in 8 to 10 years time the whole site should be transformed...and teeming with wildlife.