At the start of June our Volunteers went out to Patten’s Rock Quarry to help with our annual orchid count at the site. This important area of limestone grassland is incredibly rich in biodiversity, and the volunteers work hard to keep it from becoming scrubbed over and reclaimed as woodland. Each year we work along the quarry, from one end to the other, slowly counting all the orchids on our way. We are looking for Common spotted Orchids, Twaybalde and Greater Butterfly in particular. There are historic records of other orchid species on the site but these are the ones that we have found in recent years.

This year we counted a total of 875 common spotted orchids, 40 Greater Butterfly, and 119 Twayblade. These records are added to those from previous years to compare and contrast. The changes in their numbers can also provide some insight as to what might be happening to the soil at the site, and can help inform our management going forward.

Both Common spotted and twayblade numbers have increased slightly from last year, but the Butterfly orchid count was down. Some of the flower spikes were observed to have been eaten, likely by deer passing through, which did make them more difficult to count!

Orchids are not the only notable species on the site however, as well as many other specialist plants, we also spotted an array of different invertebrates making the old quarry their home or hunting grounds. We spotted some dragonflies using the site, on of which (the Common Clubtail) is listed as near threatened and only appears in localised areas.