[Fieldfare]

Hi all- not sure this is in the right section- anyway- I would like to introduce orchids into one of my fields (low-ish fertility, only grazed, no artificial inputs for 6 years). I was thinking about Dactylorhiza fuschii (common spotted) and Anacamptis morio (green-winged)  for starters- they grow nearby. Any tips other than seeds are hit and miss (without mycorhiza) and buy a pot grown adult plant? I'm thinking the most reliable idea is to transplant earth and plants from an established colony (fully legally and sustainably of course- which I think is possible with the landowners permission?).

Anyone tried this?

cheers

[Hermit]

I am of the school that if a piece of land is left to nature , nature will take its course and what will grow on its soil will. So if the orchids grow nearby and fancy your field then in time they will find it and flourish. They may have been trying for a while but not had the opportunity to show themselves by being trampled .

I moved into this place as a croft on a hill , when I fenced off the house from the animals , an old garden grew back which is now the outline of my new garden.

[Fieldfare]

Hi Hermit- the problem is that my fields are 'an island of becoming un-improved' in a  sea of fertilised/herbicided fields and I reckon that orchid plants will not be able to 'jump' to mine. It would be great to hear from anyone who has tried it?

cheers,

[YorkshireLass]

Your local Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation or similar might have experience of re-seeding and may even know of donor sites and best practice?

[Fleecewife]

My father had a field which had been under cultivation for many many years, including several years with pigs on.  Eventually he decided to take it out of cultivation and plant it with woodland.  Within just a few years a variety of orchids popped up of their own accord.  We assumed they had lain dormant for all those years, but perhaps they floated in from somewhere else.

[Hermit]

Its true as said my garden was grazed by cattle for many years before I moved in, now I cannot mow the lawn in areas for the orrchids., and I have made a wildlife area where they flourish.

[SallyintNorth]

Some of our ground has tremendous orchid displays most years - and cattle graze the moss there.  And orchids are starting to come back on ground where the sheep have now been taken off these last three years, but the cattle still graze.  All very low intensity grazing - the ground is very wet.

[Hermit]

What orchids do you get Sally? Mine are northern marsh orhids, they look like purple hyacinths up to six inches high.

[SallyintNorth]

What orchids do you get Sally? Mine are northern marsh orhids, they look like purple hyacinths up to six inches high.

Aye, the same, also early ones; I assume early purple, and I have seen locally (but not on our ground) the pyramid ones.  I'm not sure I would definitely tell the difference between northern marsh and common spotted, we get quite a range of colours and shapes and sizes of spire.

[brickyard]

Sorry to jump on a older topic but I've only just joined.
 I have hay meadows with common spotted, green winged and tway blade orchids. It's SSSI designated and I am advised that cattle are the best to be kept on the ground. Must be taken off by 1st April and then the hay only cut after 14th July. Cattle do not graze as low as sheep and break the surface just enough to help the seeds into the soil. Horses can be grazed ok but with care.
  I would guess that you would be able to have some success with seeding if the area already has some as soil types etc are obviously suitable. I am sure I have read somewhere that there is a soil fungus which is present and assists the orchids propagate.