Green-winged Orchids at Barrington Hill NNR

The EuCAN Somerset group have carried out several work days at Barrington Hill National Nature Reserve during the last year, clearing blackthorn thickets, pollarding willows beside the pond, repairing fences and rebuilding a footbridge.

Photo: Olly Tuckwell

As the site is one of the best places in Somerset to see Green-winged Orchids (Orchis morio) we have arranged for a follow-up visit for the group (and anyone else who would like to join us) during the anticipated flowering time – there was an estimate of 40,000 orchids last year (!) so it promises to be quite a spectacle. The visit is planned for 2pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 6th and will be led by Gwil Wren, one of the EuCAN directors who lives in Somerset  and knows the site well. The meeting point will be the layby on the Horton to Bickenhall road at map reference: ST297168. It would help us with planning if you could let us know if you are aiming to join the walk. Contact: gwil@eucan.org.uk