Friday 17th May 2024

Well, its Friday, last day at work for two whole weeks. And the weather seemed too good not to record how the warmer and drier conditions have brought the lawnmeadow on.

Sadly, I had seven hours of back to back meetings to look forward to before I was free.

So, to work and a quick rush through clearing travel expenses from last month's trip to Denmark now an IT issue had been sorted, a two department meeting, then a coordination meeting and finally two follow up meetings for audits already conducted, before at two, presentation of the audit report from this week.

I was closing the computer down when Jools came back from work via the pool.

She quickly changed so we could go out.

Last week when we found the white Lady Orchid last week, it seemed we missed a large colony of Birds Nest Orchids, so we were to return there.

But first, to Ramsgate to the old hoverport to look for the yellow Man Orchids.

Traffic was pretty heavy, but once we turned off at Cliffsend and drove beside Pegwell Bay, there were few folks around. We parked and walked past the Viking longboat.

As soon as we were down among the overgrown roads and buildings, I saw the impressive rosette and spike of a Lizard Orchid, the first I have seen there. It's beside a path, so hopefully will get to flower and set seen in the next few weeks.

Further along, we made it to the Man Orchid site, but the colony which has been in decline the last few years is all but gone, the ground now covered by ivy. Jools found a single small spike, and I found a second, with a third a short distance from the steps leading back up the cliffs.

And still no sign of any Bee Orchids, as the site used to have hundreds a decade ago, but none seen for at least four years after several dry springs.

So, we walk back up the steps to the car, and find that it was quarter to five.

You know what I fancy this evening, I said. A pub meal. If we go to Barham, find the Birds Nest we could have dinner at the Jackdaw, the Duke of Cumberland or even the Black Robin.

Sounds like a plan.

Traffic around Sandwich was crazy busy, but once turned onto the Canterbury road, it was quieter. Turning off at Wingham, then to Barham and out the other side through the woods to the crossroads, where the wet road and ground showed a heavy downpour had just passed.

I had the what.three.words of the white Lady programmed into my phone, so we set off up the track, then into the woods, straight to the group of Lady Orchids including the white one.

Terry said the Birds Nest were within ten metres.....

I looked round, and sure enough a little way up the down was a group of ten olive green/yellow spikes, with seven more scattered around.

Quite how I had missed this is a mystery. Its been 12 years since I saw this species in this wood.

After getting shots, we walked back to the car, then drove back to Kingston, and as it turned out, the bright lights of the Black Robin lured us in, nabbing the final parking space. After getting drinks, we got a table outside beside the tumbling Nailbourne and waited for our meals to arrive.

We both ordered burgers, and very welcome it was to, as our orchiding had worked up an appetite for us.

Cards was postponed to Saturday, and I missed the quiz, but hey, can't have everything.

We drove back along the A2 in the gloaming, a fine golden evening, and from the passenger seat I spot a new site for White Helleborines too.

A good day.