Orchis morio

Why it’s special:
In May the meadows around Newtown and Porchfield in the north of the Isle of Wight are ablaze with colour as the Green-winged Orchid comes into bloom. Changes in agriculture have resulted in a steep decline for this attractive orchid – so much so that it is now a protected species - but thankfully it still survives in these old, unspoiled meadows. The colour of this orchid’s flower varies from pale pink through to purple and each has a three-lobed tip with a long spur at the back to hold the insect-attracting nectar.

Where to find it
The largest Island population of Green-winged Orchid can be found in the private MoD Rifle Ranges meadow at Porchfield, where numbers are estimated to be as high as 250,000. The orchid can also be found on south coast Brook Down and at the National Trust-owned nature reserve of Newtown Estuary, an important area for rare and  threatened wildlife with some 300 plants and 180 bird species recorded.

Best time to see
Spring.

Find out more
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Newtown Estuary OS grid reference: SZ 427 911
Access to nature reserve by public footpath

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