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Liparis loeselii
One of our rarer plants, its pretty pale yellow flowers liven up our dunes.
This wild flower is difficult to spot as it is small (around 8cm tall) and inconspicuous. The leaves wrap around the bottom of the single stem which supports several flowers towards the top of the plant.
The orchid is dependent on the unique, open conditions of fenland, a naturally marshy area. Fen orchid needs wet areas with bare sand, short grasses and a lot of calcium in the soil.
The species has declined due to habitat loss as a result of wetland being reclaimed for agricultural use or fens being allowed to “scrub over” and slowly revert to woodland. Plantlife has worked with Suffolk Wildlife Trust to translocate Fen Orchid to restored habitats.
The majority of the Fen Orchid populations were lost through drainage and in the late 20th Century through peat digging and mowing. Other threats include climate change, inappropriate water and habitat management.
It is one of the rarest orchids in the UK. The plant also occurs across Europe, North America and into Russia but is rare across its European range.
After decades of brilliant conservation work, the rare and eye-catching Fen Orchid is officially no longer considered threatened in Great Britain.
We’ve worked with dedicated partners to learn more about the plant’s ecology, how to safeguard existing plants and how to boost its numbers.
Find out how we did it
Tim Pankhurst, former conservation manager at Plantlife has dedicated his life’s work to protecting Fen Orchids. For captions watch on YouTube.
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