Bee Orchids
Last November whilst on a site visit our Countryside and Volunteer Officer, Vicki Richardson, stumbled across a group of orchid leaves. She immediately recognised they were something a bit special!
After consulting with Tivoli Group Limited it was decided not to mow the site from March onwards to allow the orchid species to flower. We can now boast an amazing colony of over 16 Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera)!
The bee orchid flowers look incredibly like female bees gathering nectar from within three pink petals. This is one of nature’s clever tricks of mimicry as male bees are tricked into visiting the flowers in hope of mating. This ensures that the orchids get pollinated. Well spotted Vicki!