In late June I joined an organised visit to see an extremely rare British orchid, the Red Helleborine. It is very unpredictable in its flowering time and we visited on the 29th June, which was just about perfect on this occasion.
It is now thought to be restricted to just three sites in southern England. One in Gloucestershire, one in Hampshire and the one I visited in Buckinghamshire.
Apparently the Red Helleborine is very critical on light levels. Careful management by reserve wardens and volunteers at this site, helps to ensure that the orchids receive the correct levels of light by cutting back over-growing vegetation. As with other orchids, this species can also lay dormant for years, only emerging when the conditions are suitable, and only flowering in perfect conditions. So, to see one of these plants is not easy, and I count myself fortunate to have seen it in all its glory.
