Meadow nurtures new seasonal resident

An orchid has taken up residence for the first time ever at a town meadow.

Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity Team made a new discovery while surveying the wildflower meadow next to County Hall, at Ruthin.

The team visited the site to check on its progress this season which has already seen a strong display of wildflowers including red campion, oxe daisy and common catsear.

This site is part of the Wildflower Meadows Project which includes just over 70 acres of meadows helping and protecting local nature and supporting community wellbeing across the county. This project has also been funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project.

Investigating the meadow, the Biodiversity Team discovered a pyramidal orchid growing amongst the other species.

The wildflower has only previously been found on two coastal meadows at Prestatyn during 2023.

It has pink flower spikes that forms a pyramidal shape and is usually located on chalk grassland, coastal habitats, scrub, roadside verges, old quarries and railway embankments.

Pyramidal orchids flower in June and July and will attract and support a variety of butterflies and moths.

Liam Blazey, Senior Biodiversity Officer said: “The meadows across the county are managed to help bring back an important piece of biodiversity that we have lost over the years for our nature to thrive and also for pollinators to keep being able to support the food chain we as humans rely on.

“This is a great find at Ruthin as it shows the meadows we have are working as a combined highway for insects and animals across the county to help repopulate these sites by carrying seeds from one to the other.

“It’s great for local communities as well as the meadows are bringing back plants that our future generations can enjoy once more alongside the positive support they are bringing for local nature.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “This is a fantastic first find at one of our town best meadows and it shows that as our meadows mature they are becoming crucial in providing support for nature that has struggled due to the impact of climate change.

“As more wildflowers such as this orchid return to sites they will help to add diversity and colour across our sites for the community to enjoy, along with the pollinators at risk who help put food on our tables.

“Given the time they need to establish, all of our meadows will be for the equal wellbeing of residents and wildlife to both enjoy now, and most importantly, for our future generations in the shape of our younger Denbighshire residents.”

The pyramidal orchid has been recorded by the Biodiversity team who manage and monitor all the species found on the county’s meadows to help protect and grow future support for them.

If you need further information, please email biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk