Rare because only two or three plants remain, and only at one small area of the downs near Dover.
Its quite a hike from the car park, through the wood, the meadow, the second wood and then up through two fenced areas of the downs, out above the tree line, all the while climbing.
Its a climb best done early.
Or as early as possible.
We arranged to meet with Lisa again, and maybe Andy would meet us at the car park.
The car park has recently been surfaced, with clearly marked bays, and the steps into the wood recut, but are now really steep. If only for a few steps.
And once above the tree line, once through the stile, the path leads up, it curves up and round out of site until the second stile, then up still.
It took time, with plenty of stops to ease my back and take in the views.No Early Spiders seen at any of the three colonies along the route, even the reliable one by the gate on the way back down.
Butterflies were on the wing, and already flighty: Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Small heath, Wall, Small Blue and Green hairstreak, though none settled long enough to photograph.
Finally, we reach the top, and the path fell away into the next reserve, down though the gate and along, running level with the main road down at the bottom of the valley.
In time we came to the site of the Burnt Tips, but already we could see the down covered in thicker grass than expected, so it took some close looking as the four of us scoured the bank.
After an hour, we drew a blank. Either a fallow year, or too dry for the spike to form and flower.
A disappointing result, but partly expected.
We stopped to talk for a while, before starting the climb back up and then down to the car once we had gone over the top.
We reached the cars at quarter to twelve, it was decided to show both Lisa and Andy the Main orchid site up the road, which we did, then drove to Kingston for lunch at the Black Robin.
Only it was closed!
So to Barham to the Duke, though they were doing no food, they did have drinks and crisps. So we refreshed ourselves before we went to Covet again so Lisa could see the white Lady and Birds-nests.
We climbed the wooded down, found the Lady, then I searched and found the BNO again, all got snapped.
And that was that, we had run out of orchids.
So, we walked back tot he car, then drove back to Priory to drop Lisa off, then head home for an early dinner as we had not eaten all day, other than crisps.
So, with some free range eggs I made carnbonara, and some Tesco focaccia.
It was quick and very, very good.
And that was your day, other than Citeh and Palace playing on the tellybox once again, but not each other.
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