On Wednesday 12th June we had the annual orchid count at Pudsham Meadows.

DPA and Devon Wildlife Trust Volunteers set off in pairs or small groups to count. Photo: Hilary Marshall
Twenty-two DPA and Devon Wildlife Trust Volunteers set off in pairs or small groups, each surveying one species in one of the four meadows. A total of 4184 flowers were found.

With some species, finding them can be a challenge…….in Pudsham Meadow. Photo: Hilary Marshall
In some areas, the orchids are no so easy to find – the photograph above is from Pudsham Meadow …..

….. and similarly in Small Field. Photo: Hilary Marshall
The situation was similar in the meadow known as Small Field.

Other species are easy to find but present a different problem. Photo: Hilary Marshall
Whereas other species (here Heath Spotted-orchids in Pudsham Meadow) present a different challenge – they are easy to find but not so straightforward to count!

The scene in Ralph’s Meadow. Photo: Hilary Marshall
The photograph above shows two teams in the lower part of Ralph’s Meadow.

Coffee break. Photo: Hilary Marshall
Coffee break and lunch were enjoyed with – perhaps a record-breaking? – five varieties of cake!

After lunch we pulled bracken in Goat and Small Fields. Photo: Hilary Marshall
After lunch we pulled bracken in Goat and Small Fields. This picture shows a patch in Goat Field which has previously been pulled in 2017 and 2018. Note the small size of the bracken.

Another part of the Goat Field pulled patch. Photo: Hilary Marshall
The previous bracken pulling has had a marked effect in reducing growth this year ….. compare with the photograph from two years ago, below …..

Photo of the same area taken in 2017. Photo: Hilary Marshall
Contrast this photo of the same area taken in 2017 – both the height of the bracken and the number of flowers in the grassland

Heath Spotted Orchid. Photo: Kevin McDonagh

Twayblade Orchid. Photo: Kevin McDonagh

Greater Butterfly-orchid. Photo: Hilary Marshall

Hybrid between Southern Marsh and Heath Spotted-orchid. Photo: Hilary Marshall

Southern Marsh orchid. Photo: Hilary Marshall