ORCHID`S AT WILWELL

Green Wing Orchid

In the 1970`s the survey for the Planning Inquiry indicated scattered communities of this flower. In the early 1980`s Trust work teams cleared an area of hawthorn in the upper meadow and one of these small colonies spread into the opened up area and now has a population of many hundreds. Keeping this area open is a major management task. Until recently the GWO`s have resolutely refused to colonise the more thickly grassed area nearer the gate. However the occasional plant is now found, but it does not appear to be very successful in gaining a foothold.

In the lower meadow there is now an equally large but much more widely scattered population. This colony seems to be able to tolerate the longer grass. The time to see GWO`s is late April till mid to late May

Southern Marsh Orchid

In the late 1980`s the reserve had a population of over 1,000 Southern Marsh Orchids. But in 1989 the numbers collapsed by approx two thirds. Caused by a major change in the site`s hydrology, possibly associated with a change in the water table. By the mid 90`s the SMO population was around 400 flowering plants each year. But in 1997, after two years of drought, the population was down to a mere 86 flowering plants and had disappeared from some locations, including the area around Post 13.

This was followed by a much wetter winter and the numbers recovered to around 300 in 1998 and 400 in 1999. In the summer of 2000 the SMO has had a field day. Over 900 flower heads were counted and nearly two thirds of them are in the area between Post 13 and the line of hawthorn in the main meadow. In 2002 SMO`s reached an amazing 3,200 (or so) flower spikes a figure exceeding the previous recorded best of 2,700 in 1987. The time to see the SMO`s is in late May through to late June.

Common Spotted Orchid

During the 1980`s there was a population of CSO`s. However by the early 90`s this had disappeared. But in 1998 a small population of CSO`s reappeared in the lower meadow and each year a slowly increasing population has been counted, last years count being 12 flower spikes.

Bee Orchid

The reserve contains a small colony of BO`s and on occasion flowers appear in other parts of the reserve. The colony is possibly 20 - 30 plants strong on average, but it is difficult to be sure as a BO only flowers in it`s fourth year and then that plant dies. In it`s vegetative state it produces an inconspicuous leaf floret which can only be found by a very careful search in January/February. Because of this life cycle, the number of Bee Orchids in flower each year varies tremendously from none to twelve. Last year the colony produced none, but five flowering plants were found elsewhere on the reserve, including two in a "good" BO site. A survey of that area this January found five leaf florets, which seems to indicate that they are in the process of establishing a second colony.

Twayblade Orchid

The reserve has a small population of TO`s adjacent to the woodland. It is perhaps 8-10 plants strong.

Hybrid - Southern Marsh / Common Spotted

2000 has seen the return of a hybrid orchid previously seen in the early 1990`s. This has the flower of the Southern Marsh, but the leaves of the Common Spotted.

Broad Leaved Heliborine

An example of this has been recorded on the reserve for the first time last year. However this identification is provisional as unfortunately a pesky rabbit bit of the flower spike before it could actually flower !. It has however been recorded in woods at Wollaton and Cotgrave and could also be in other local woods. Whether it is the start of a colonisation process or is a one off remains to be seen. Whatever it will be interesting to see what transpires next year.