Management for orchids

Orchid seeds are tiny and need perfect conditions to germinate and thrive in soils where the nutrient levels are low and where they are not outcompeted by coarser vegetation.

Bowyers Orchid Meadow is located at the northern end of Bowyers Water in River Lee Country Park. It is an area where the gravel extracted from the area was sorted and due to this the soil here is very sandy and low in nutrients – perfect for orchids. A number of different species including Twayblade, Pyramidal, Common Spotted, Bee and Southern Marsh Orchid are found here alongside Early Marsh Orchid [CP1] which is a Lee Valley Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species.

Each year our Ranger team, often joined by volunteers, survey the key orchid sites to monitor numbers. To try and prevent the nutrient levels from increasing and allowing coarser species to dominate, each year once the seeds have set the meadows are cut, raked and the arisings removed from site.

If you would like to get involved in the management of our sites please check out the current volunteering opportunities