RARE orchids will be on display in a free guided talk at a west Dorset beauty spot.
With spring in full bloom, the National Trust’s team in North and West Dorset are hosting a free Green-winged Orchid walk on the Golden Cap Estate.
Volunteer ecologists will be on hand to guide visitors and share insights into this rare orchid.
The Green-winged Orchid was a defining feature of country life but numbers of the rare flowers steadily declined through the 19th Century.
Today it is often only present in small numbers where it was once common.
Much of the Golden Cap Estate is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSI), and it is managed to ensure the continued success of the rare plant.
The purple flower gets its name from the green veins in the 'hood' of its flowers.
The walk through the meadows will be run as an informal self-guided drop-in trail on Sunday, April 28, from 10.30am until 2pm.
Visitors are encouraged to use the National Trust’s car park at Stonebarrow where signposts will guide them to the meadow.
Volunteer ecologists will be on hand to talk about the plants and answer any questions.
Adam Woolcott, a Ranger on the Golden Cap Estate, said: “The team at Golden Cap and our tenant farmers manage the meadows year-round to maintain the biodiversity of this special site.
"The hay meadows are rich in wildflowers including thousands of Green-winged Orchids.
"Our volunteer ecologists can’t wait to share their expertise at this free event."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here