Wild orchids

Do you believe in little green men? There are quite a few down Thurrock way and not far from London.


Can you see the dangling green men in their enormous space helmets? More bizarre than beautiful, this is the man orchid (Orchis anthropophorum)and is growing in a former chalk quarry at Chafford Gorge near Grays in Essex. I went there last week looking for bee orchids, but didn't find any. I found these and three other types of orchids though. It is a great nature reserve if you are ever down that way. http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Graham/news.htm

 

Do they like open chalk or woodland - wouldn't mind having a go with some given right conditions.