Welcome to this new site that will celebrate all that is great about Gloucestershire's orchid riches. I have been a lifelong student of wildflowers, but orchids have always been my true love

The intention is to bring up to date news of the Orchid Year in Gloucestershire as it unfolds, illustrated with fine photos taken within the limits of the current county boundaries. I also hope to give some background to each & every plant as it appears, including current status

I have been fortunate to see all 29 orchid species on the modern Gloucestershire List - although technically one of these species is present at a site within the 'old' administrative boundaries of the county, and now firmly resides within neighbouring Worcestershire!

So, this is modern day Gloucestershire, a county dominated by the Forest of Dean in the west, the Vale of Severn and the Cotswolds to the east. Boasting a wide variety of natural habitats, Gloucestershire possesses one of the richest selections of orchid treasures in the UK

Some of the county's orchids are very localised. There is, for example, only one regular site for Burnt (Tip) Orchid (and another just over the border), and only 3 sites for Marsh Fragrant Orchid and Marsh Helleborine in the County that I regularly visit...

And other species are nationally rare, the jewel in the crown being Red Helleborine, a plant only found in 3 counties in the UK - and at risk in all. I have been lucky to see this magnificent plant flowering at 3 locations in the county in addition to a certain protected site

But it isn't all about rarity. Some of our more common orchids are equally beautiful, and over the months to come we will explore this rich flora, from the first vegetative shoots (which are already starting to appear) through to their highlights in the flowering season next year

Their is still much work ahead for me in the preparation of the new publication. In the meantime I would welcome news of any interesting sightings that you may have from your travels, whatever the species

Going through some old photos, I never fail to be astonished by the natural variation in our orchids, from the different colours of the flowers within certain species, to the development of significant and stable ‘forms’ or variants, such as in the Bee Orchid

The book will illustrate some of this diversity in Gloucestershire’s orchids, together with photos & discussion on the many hybrids to be found in certain populations such as CSO x Chalk Fragrant, CSO x SMO, Broad-leaved x Violet Helleborine and, my favourite, CSO x Frog