Saturday 14th June 2025

Saturday, and all is well.

The Bredhurst Woodland Action Group, who I did a talk for just over two years back, needed an orchid expert to lead a walk in their area.

You can see where this is heading, right?

I volunteered my services, which meant I had to be at the village hall at two for the walk.

It rained more over night, and when we got up at half six, there was thick sea mist hiding the village from us, and was nice and cool.

Just as nice was the cool breeze that further took the edge off the temperature, meaning it shouldn't be so hot.

After breakfast I loaded the car with me and a camera or two, and set off at quarter to ten, first of all calling in at the vet to collect some worm tablets for Poppy, then off up the A2.

First port of call was a woodland copse set behind some new builds on the edge of Chatham.

I parked, and set off up the steps to find some rather rare and unusual hyper-coloured Common Spotted Orchids.

After half an hour walking in circles, I call Terry and he tells me I need to go up another set of steps.

This I do, go through another small copse, and sure enough, there on the left was small deeply coloured orchid.

Bingo.

Bango.

Bongo.

Further on there were at least four more larger spikes, which I snap all of them.

These are really incredible orchids, and most people walk past, unaware.

So it goes. So it goes.

I drove to Bredhurst, park up and find solace in the pub, as I had 90 minutes to kill. I took a pint and some crisps to the beer garden, and find its packed. Packed with families and friends, drinking, eating, laughing.

Enjoying life.

I try to make my pint last an hour, but fail.

So, I drown the dregs, then walk to the hall where the organiser, Vanessa, is organising things.

So I help put tables and chair out, and we talk of the plans for the day.

I was here to answere any orchid-related questions, but for me, as my friend Dave had posted pictures of a hybrid from the site on Friday, it was that I wanted to find.

At two, I lead the 25 or so people down the lane, past the church, then along a path so overgrown it was like a green tunnel, which in time lead to a lane.

Along the lane, then down another path, and before us was a crease in the chalk downland, Strawberry Banks.

We walked round the edge and soon found Pyramidals, then some Chalk Fragrants and a few fried Bee Orchids, some just good enough to snap.

Up the north facing slope, oddly more densely packed with Fragrants, with a few Common Spotted mixed in.

I stooped to inspect every large spike of Chalk Fragrant, but had no luck.

I explained to the group what I was looking for: a Chalk Fragrant spike, but with patternation on the lip and sepals.

Like this one, she said?

And she had found the hybrid the first spike she checked: X dactylodenia heinzeliana. The hybrid of Chalk Fragrant and CSO.

Bing!

There were many statuesque Greater Butterfly too; are the small ones Lesser, I was asked.

You would think so, but no. Also Greater.

Into the woods to check on a single spike of Birds-nest Orchid, photos all round, then back to the Banks, then down and up the other side.

It was half four, hot and humid. There was talk of cake and tea back at the hall, and that's what kept my legs going.

It was hard going up the bank, then along the track to the lane. Finally down past the church into the village.

And there was free cream tea for the leader!

Two scones, cream and jam.

I realise I had them Cornish style, cream on first. They and the mug of tea were perfect.

I climbed back into the car, set the nav for home, just so I could find my way back to the M2, I know the way home from there.

I had both windows open, to let the air blow through and to cool me down, it hurt to press the brakes, but otherwise all was well.

Back onto the A2, past Canterbury and onto Whitfield and home, getting back at twenty five to six, where after a refreshing brew, I made dinner of dirty burgers and beer.

Boy, they tasted good, and the beer helped too,

A fine day, with the two rare orchids found and snapped.

Perfect.