Wild Orchids UK & IE
@ukorchids.bsky.social
British and Irish orchids, with occasional orchid posts from other areas.
Run by Sean Cole
Run by Sean Cole
Hi orchid lovers!
Our new book is due to be published in spring 2026!
It will be a large-format, A4 photographic guide to all British & Irish orchids, to complement our field guide, Britain's Orchids.
Please support us if you'd like a copy!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/orc...
Our new book is due to be published in spring 2026!
It will be a large-format, A4 photographic guide to all British & Irish orchids, to complement our field guide, Britain's Orchids.
Please support us if you'd like a copy!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/orc...
December 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Hi orchid lovers!
Our new book is due to be published in spring 2026!
It will be a large-format, A4 photographic guide to all British & Irish orchids, to complement our field guide, Britain's Orchids.
Please support us if you'd like a copy!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/orc...
Our new book is due to be published in spring 2026!
It will be a large-format, A4 photographic guide to all British & Irish orchids, to complement our field guide, Britain's Orchids.
Please support us if you'd like a copy!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/orc...
Autumn lady's tresses still in flower in the New Forest 😳🤩
October 26, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Autumn lady's tresses still in flower in the New Forest 😳🤩
Well, the orchid shop will shortly be closing for the winter, with the Autumn lady's tresses in bloom.
It's been a busy season, collecting new photos for a book we will be publishing next spring. More news to follow soon!
It's been a busy season, collecting new photos for a book we will be publishing next spring. More news to follow soon!
August 25, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Well, the orchid shop will shortly be closing for the winter, with the Autumn lady's tresses in bloom.
It's been a busy season, collecting new photos for a book we will be publishing next spring. More news to follow soon!
It's been a busy season, collecting new photos for a book we will be publishing next spring. More news to follow soon!
Autumn Lady's Tresses struggling in the Cotswolds, Laurie Lee country.
August 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Autumn Lady's Tresses struggling in the Cotswolds, Laurie Lee country.
Earlier this month I was lucky enough to be taken to a site in Estonia that holds a few Ghost Orchids. I was pleased to find the first of 16 at this site within ten seconds of arrival 😀. Fortuitously, the sun was lighting it up under the tree and I saw it before getting out of the car.
August 15, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Earlier this month I was lucky enough to be taken to a site in Estonia that holds a few Ghost Orchids. I was pleased to find the first of 16 at this site within ten seconds of arrival 😀. Fortuitously, the sun was lighting it up under the tree and I saw it before getting out of the car.
Small Skipper taking a free drink from a Marsh Fragrant Orchid, its proboscis too narrow to pollinate the flowers. Derbyshire, July 2025.
August 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Small Skipper taking a free drink from a Marsh Fragrant Orchid, its proboscis too narrow to pollinate the flowers. Derbyshire, July 2025.
Last weekend I visited the far east - of Europe, and saw two of our continent's most iconic species.
Neottianthe/Ponerorchis cucullata and Epipogium aphyllum.
I'll let the pictures do the talking 😍
Neottianthe/Ponerorchis cucullata and Epipogium aphyllum.
I'll let the pictures do the talking 😍
August 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Last weekend I visited the far east - of Europe, and saw two of our continent's most iconic species.
Neottianthe/Ponerorchis cucullata and Epipogium aphyllum.
I'll let the pictures do the talking 😍
Neottianthe/Ponerorchis cucullata and Epipogium aphyllum.
I'll let the pictures do the talking 😍
Climbing gates, scrabbling down slopes and bracing the quagmire in the rain, but totally worthwhile 2-hour drive into the Peak District. Incredibly rich former quarry site 😍
July 20, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Climbing gates, scrabbling down slopes and bracing the quagmire in the rain, but totally worthwhile 2-hour drive into the Peak District. Incredibly rich former quarry site 😍
Two rather different but rather lovely Common Spotted Orchids from Wales last week.
July 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Two rather different but rather lovely Common Spotted Orchids from Wales last week.
A few insects visiting the giant Marsh Helleborine today, 11th July, at Sweeney Fen in Shropshire. Wet knees but worth it!
This insect is too small to pollinate the flowers, so is getting a free meal :-)
This insect is too small to pollinate the flowers, so is getting a free meal :-)
July 11, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A few insects visiting the giant Marsh Helleborine today, 11th July, at Sweeney Fen in Shropshire. Wet knees but worth it!
This insect is too small to pollinate the flowers, so is getting a free meal :-)
This insect is too small to pollinate the flowers, so is getting a free meal :-)
Monster Marsh Helleborine today at a beautiful Shropshire fen.
July 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Monster Marsh Helleborine today at a beautiful Shropshire fen.
Camera photos to follow, but had the pleasure of spending a few hours at a confusing but orchid-rich site in Wales today. A beautiful spot, had it to myself 😀
Hybrids between Common Spotted and either Heath or Chalk Fragrant.🤯
Hybrids between Common Spotted and either Heath or Chalk Fragrant.🤯
June 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Camera photos to follow, but had the pleasure of spending a few hours at a confusing but orchid-rich site in Wales today. A beautiful spot, had it to myself 😀
Hybrids between Common Spotted and either Heath or Chalk Fragrant.🤯
Hybrids between Common Spotted and either Heath or Chalk Fragrant.🤯
🤯 Mind blown by this roadside colony of Pyramidal Orchids, found by King of Oxfordshire Orchids Hamza Soyden. Approximately 50% were of the white colour form. This must be unique, surely?
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
June 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
🤯 Mind blown by this roadside colony of Pyramidal Orchids, found by King of Oxfordshire Orchids Hamza Soyden. Approximately 50% were of the white colour form. This must be unique, surely?
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
Yes, Common Spotted and Pyramidal.
Where these two play together, look out also for Bee Orchid 😀
Where these two play together, look out also for Bee Orchid 😀
June 16, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Yes, Common Spotted and Pyramidal.
Where these two play together, look out also for Bee Orchid 😀
Where these two play together, look out also for Bee Orchid 😀
Whilst photographing variation among Fragrant Orchids, was stopped in my tracks by this exquisite Bee Orchid.
It's impossible not to be awe- struck (stricken?) by the sheer artistry and beauty of these amazing feats of evolution.
It's impossible not to be awe- struck (stricken?) by the sheer artistry and beauty of these amazing feats of evolution.
June 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Whilst photographing variation among Fragrant Orchids, was stopped in my tracks by this exquisite Bee Orchid.
It's impossible not to be awe- struck (stricken?) by the sheer artistry and beauty of these amazing feats of evolution.
It's impossible not to be awe- struck (stricken?) by the sheer artistry and beauty of these amazing feats of evolution.
Crazy peloric Lesser Butterfly Orchids from the New Forest. Absolutely delightful to see.
Cheers @orchidvinny.bsky.social for the assistance as always 👌
Cheers @orchidvinny.bsky.social for the assistance as always 👌
June 14, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Crazy peloric Lesser Butterfly Orchids from the New Forest. Absolutely delightful to see.
Cheers @orchidvinny.bsky.social for the assistance as always 👌
Cheers @orchidvinny.bsky.social for the assistance as always 👌
Grandis from Herefordshire last week.
June 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Grandis from Herefordshire last week.
Bateman defines it as "those located below the inflorescence and failing to fully encircle the stem at their base".
June 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Bateman defines it as "those located below the inflorescence and failing to fully encircle the stem at their base".
"Cotswolds" butterfly orchids yesterday. At this site, the few plants present all have intermediate pollinia arrangements but are closer to Lesser than Greater. This feature seems unique to a small number of sites in the area.
June 9, 2025 at 12:23 PM
"Cotswolds" butterfly orchids yesterday. At this site, the few plants present all have intermediate pollinia arrangements but are closer to Lesser than Greater. This feature seems unique to a small number of sites in the area.
Some lovely Common Spotted Orchids today in Worcestershire.
Thanks again to Glen 💪👌
@worcswt.bsky.social
Thanks again to Glen 💪👌
@worcswt.bsky.social
June 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Some lovely Common Spotted Orchids today in Worcestershire.
Thanks again to Glen 💪👌
@worcswt.bsky.social
Thanks again to Glen 💪👌
@worcswt.bsky.social
Thanks Glen Dipple for the tip: the lovely HerefordsWT Stockings Meadow, which had a morass of confusing Spotted Orchids. 1 of few sites I know where both occur & there were inevitably hybrids I think.
For me the trickiest of all, given their variability & sometimes considered to be a single species
For me the trickiest of all, given their variability & sometimes considered to be a single species
June 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Thanks Glen Dipple for the tip: the lovely HerefordsWT Stockings Meadow, which had a morass of confusing Spotted Orchids. 1 of few sites I know where both occur & there were inevitably hybrids I think.
For me the trickiest of all, given their variability & sometimes considered to be a single species
For me the trickiest of all, given their variability & sometimes considered to be a single species
This is a beautiful thing 😍
Thanks to Tom Garner 👌🏻
northernfellspalaeoart.blogspot.com/2021/07/orch...
Thanks to Tom Garner 👌🏻
northernfellspalaeoart.blogspot.com/2021/07/orch...
June 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
This is a beautiful thing 😍
Thanks to Tom Garner 👌🏻
northernfellspalaeoart.blogspot.com/2021/07/orch...
Thanks to Tom Garner 👌🏻
northernfellspalaeoart.blogspot.com/2021/07/orch...
Small White Orchid has already started to flower in the Scottish Highlands 😳
Here's a pic from last year, 29th June.
Here's a pic from last year, 29th June.
June 4, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Small White Orchid has already started to flower in the Scottish Highlands 😳
Here's a pic from last year, 29th June.
Here's a pic from last year, 29th June.
Looks a lot like junialis which would be a new location for this rather rare var.
Please report to Ian Benhallick, who is Cornwall VCR for @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Please report to Ian Benhallick, who is Cornwall VCR for @bsbibotany.bsky.social
May 31, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Looks a lot like junialis which would be a new location for this rather rare var.
Please report to Ian Benhallick, who is Cornwall VCR for @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Please report to Ian Benhallick, who is Cornwall VCR for @bsbibotany.bsky.social