On the 16th and 19th June 08, the Weekday Conservation Team (WCT) visited Great Stukeley (a Network Rail Site of Special Scientific Interest – SSSI). The land is strictly NO public access, so the only way to visit is with the WCT. The site is of special scientific interest for a number of reasons but mainly because the grassland found there is home to rare wild flowers such as orchids. All of the plants in the photographs were present at the time of this visit.
Above is the Pyramid Orchid
Above: The Common Spotted Orchid
Above: The Bee Orchid
To protect the biodiversity of the site (including the orchids) the grass must be cut and removed twice a year (ideally) for the wild flowers to flourish. This is because flowers such as Orchids survive in low nutrient soils. If the nutrients were left to build up over time, the flowers would get out competed by coarse grasses, then brambles and eventually hawthorn scrub.