Wild Orchids at Ragpits
13 comments
Ragpits
Ragpits is a BBOWT site near to Wendover. It is the site of old chalk workings I was told about it by a colleague at work, who said she had been there to help count orchids. It sounded to be worth a visit .Though she said there were many orchids on site, I wasn’t prepared for the thousands to be seen.
Here is what first greeted our eyes. Those pink spikes that stretch into the distance are a mixture of the common spotted and fragrant orchids
There were many shades of the common spotted on site, here are a few
Some pictures of the Fragrant Orchid, which I’d never seen before
Scattered around the site were examples of the Pyramidal Orchid
Though unspectacular, when you looked closely there were also many Twayblades
The individual flowers are very small and green, interesting rather than beautiful.
Greater Butterfly Orchid
Another new one on me, but really impressive. They always seemed to be situated on the steepest slopes and there were quite a few slithers involved in taking the pictures
Also on site were meant to be a Frog Orchid, Bee Orchids and Lesser Butterfly Orchid but I didn’t spot them.
There was interesting fauna as well as flora
Huge Roman snails
Burnet moth
This either a Large or Small Skipper, not sure which
Finally under one of the large sheets of corrugated iron around the site a Slow Worm
It was a magical place to visit and I shall be returning next year at orchid time.
16 Jul, 2010
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Comments
It must have been a wonderful experience to see all those orchids.
16 Jul, 2010
Wish that was not so far away would have loved to have seen it .still photos are great thanks for showing.
B
17 Jul, 2010
Definitely worth a visit. Lovely photographs - thanks for risking life and limb to get the Greater Butterfly Orchid,lol. What month was this, AG?
17 Jul, 2010
Thanks for sharing this. I love wild orchids but have never seen them in such numbers!
17 Jul, 2010
Thanks for the comments. We went on the 24th June and were told that the display had gone over a little. Lord knows what it must have looked like at its peak because to me it was breathtaking. I wonder if there are any other sites with such vast numbers in so relatively small an area. The slow worm was a definite bonus for me as the last time I'd seen one in the wild was at the age of 6, a few years ago. I'd recommend it to anyone, I've been told since where to look for the Frog orchid too. One for the diary in 2011.
17 Jul, 2010
This'll go in my diary for 2011 too! Slow worms I have in the garden so won't need to look for them there, lol.
18 Jul, 2010
lucky you Wagger. Any other reptilian inmates? Next door's cat catches the occasional grass snake and we have had newts too.
19 Jul, 2010
Common newts, frogs and the odd toad - oh, and a grass snake occasionally swims in the pond. There's a photo of him on the very first page of my pictures.
20 Jul, 2010
Up until about ten years ago the slow worm was common in my garden( my boys would carry them into the house and leave them in the kitchen to scare my wife)they are very beautiful creatures basking in the sun and under corrugated steel sheets.then the badgers and foxes moved in and now they are no more.I would have them back any day in preference.
20 Jul, 2010
Seems I'm missing out on the slow worms in my part of the country then because I've never heard of one around here. Mind you my wife is mad keen on badgers, we've been on several badger watching holidays, so she'd be pleased to see one in our garden. The holidays are quite big business Brian, have you got room for a hide in your back garden?
21 Jul, 2010
Breathtaking. I imagine it's one of those experiences we safely file away in our memories, never to be forgotten. Thanks for sharing.
4 Nov, 2010
It was Muddy. Hopefully I shall try and renew the memory annually
5 Nov, 2010
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What a beautiful blog and what a privilage to see such amazing flowers, truly a rare sight. Thank you for showing us.
16 Jul, 2010