Having previously travelled to
Sandscale Haws in Cumbria a few years back in search of Coralroot Orchids but
unfortunately drawing a blank and failing to find any in the extensive dune
system, I was determined to finally catch up with my ‘nemesis orchid’ this year
upon hearing they were having one of the best flowering seasons at the site in
over 20 years.
With none recorded in 2013 and
just 177 plants counted in 2014, this year’s showing of over 1000 plants was
reminiscent of the huge numbers found in the late 80s and early 90s, and meant
I had the best chance in several years of finding them.
Luckily, the warden was on
site at the car park when we arrived, and after explaining the reason for
visiting, he kindly drove us up the beach and to the slacks the Coralroots were
growing in – success was guaranteed this time around! After a short ten minute
walk through the dune system we had arrived, and sure enough I spotted a small
yellow flower nestled amongst the Creeping Willow next to his boot – my first
Coralroot Orchid!
With the orchids scattered all
around the adjacent area amongst the dune vegetation, the warden led us to the
flowers that were still in pristine condition (a trip to New York during the
peak of flowering meant this was the earliest opportunity to go, with several
plants now edging past their best) and left us to admire the colony in all its
glory.
Distributed over a northerly
range in the UK, Coralroot Orchids can be found across Scotland and in several colonies
in the north of England, although most populations are thought to be relatively
small (Sandscale Haws being one of the most popular along with Gosforth Park in Northumberland).
Found in the dune habitat at
Sandscale as opposed to woodland and tending to favour the younger and wetter
slacks with short vegetation, Coralroot Orchids can soon get overcrowded by the
other vegetation here. Grazing and habitat management are therefore critical
for this population’s survival, as sadly the dunes are no longer mobile enough
to create the new areas of pioneer dune slacks the orchids would naturally
colonise after their current slacks age and become unsuitable.
The slack where the Coralroots were favouring |
Creeping Willow plays an important role in Coralroot growth, with the orchid forming a symbiotic relationship with this species in order to survive. |
A small in-situ shot from my phone where the surrounding Creeping Willow is obvious |
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