Before Saltholme was a nature reserve it was a farm but some areas have had industrial use. A quick look at a geology map* shows that our Meadow is 'made ground' - it is not even the original soil! So we are trying to create a traditional meadow on heavily fertilised soil of unknown origin which is not good for wildflowers. So imagine our delight to see several Northern Marsh-orchids (Dactylorhiza purpurella) flowering in the wetter part.
This is good news. We can introduce some plants as we have done with Hay (or Yellow) Rattle but orchids are almost impossible to grow from seed outside a laboratory as they have a very close relationship with a special fungus needed for germination and survival. We just have to wait for the very small seeds to blow in and hope the soil ecology is right.
So that visitors can get a closer look, today a path has been mown from the Kestrel Trail, taking care not to mow other wanted plants or disturb the colony. The photo was taken from this new, temporary path.
Peter
* British Geology Survey sheet 33