There are currently a small number of Early Marsh Orchids on bloom. This year they are found on the wetter parts of the Marsh to the left and right of the first part of the boardwalk. In past years we have always looked at these pale pink orchids blooming in May and said very knowledgeably, Early Marsh Orchids. Last year, I found very similar looking orchids flowering well into June and mixed in amongst the population of Southern Marsh Orchids. They are different species, they are both Dactylorhiza genus but the early one is incarnata and the and one is praetermissa. The early one is supposed to be distinguished by the pattern of whorls on the lip of the flower. This can be seen on the photograph but it is also found throughout the Southern Orchid population. It is well known that orchids freely hybridise but that to me is a mystery because, try as hard as you can and you would be very unlikely to see any insect visiting the flowers. It is said that many are self pollinating but that d...
A quick walk around the Reserve on the morning of 17th August 2024. 25C. View West showing the entrance path onto the reserve. Now onto the floodplain and the start of the boardwalk. The main path off to the right with a good variety of wild flowers. The path is in the middle somewhere! The Reed Bed Pond with a Moorhen calling. Where we recently had to clear a fallen Willow. The wet woodland at the north end of the Reserve showing regeneration of the Osiers that we cut to make the Water Vole Viewpoint. The backwater with a heavy growth of the water weeds and bankside vegetation including masses of Himalayan Balsam, mostly on the other bank. Where we made the 'leaky dam' in the Winter, now heavily overgrown. The Indian or Orange balsam, now making its appearance. There has been a splendid show of Marsh Woundwort. The path thro...
At the North end of the Reserve is a small bed of osiers willows. These need to be coppiced regularly. This year we used the material to make faggots to build up the very marshy path at this point. Some of these thicker osiers were to be used as stock material to make a new Osiers bed in Pishiobury Park, Sawbridgeworth. To keep them fresh they were stood in the cattle trough which was full of water.
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