A year in orchids: Kent

Kent:

Let’s get the negative stuff out of the way first. 2022 will be remembered for a weekend in May when a dozen Late Spider plants were stolen from a little known site in Folkestone, and later the same weekend, possibly the same people climbed Mt Caburn in Sussex and dug up several Burnt Orchids too.

Late Spiders are rare enough, and maybe something like 5% of the breeding population were dug up and now lost. Because of the way this plant is pollenated, or not here in the UK, a mature plant can take a decade to first flower.

Even worse that that, was to be shown a file from our County Recorders detailing every site at which they can be found and rosette numbers. And to think we’re so anal in our groups not to reveal locations only for those who should know better giving out site’s addresses.

One more negative issue was the apparent destruction of the county’s most recent species. Serapias vomeracea. What was a single spike in 2020, and two last year as three this year. I took shots on June 9th this year where three spikes were showing, noting how oddly flat the spikes were. Over the next week the plants withered until they were no more.

A lot has been said about reintroductions, and whether they are good or bad. Odd then, if these really were subjected to elimination that these which almost certainly were a true natural introduction, rather than planted or seeded by man.

I don’t hold much hope for them reappearing next year, but we shall see. Orchids are hardier than we imagine sometimes.

That aside, it was a very fine year indeed, otherwise.

I saw my first ever March orchid, a spike found in flower, a single flower on 26th March at Yocklett’s Bank. In what will be shown to be the warmest ever year in the UK, the season would be “early” for most species.

For the first week in April, I went to Rhodes where I saw 44 species, 42 of them new to me, as well as at least three hybrids too.

Back in Kent on 10th April, my first full day back home, I found an Early Spider in flower in a hidden corner at Samphire Hoe, near to where a juvenile Adder was basking. The next weekend we went to Sandwich Bay to look at the progress of the Green Wings. As for years I have been going to Marden for my fix of these. The plants on the golf course are stunted and wind-blown, but we found several in flower, including a single var. alba spike too.

I didn’t see another Early Purple until we returned to Yocklett’s on St George’s Day, 23rd April. It was the height of bluebell season too, and several EPO spikes were already going to seed. But I did find my first Fly spoke open in a meadow at the same location.

By the end of April, Lady Orchids were beginning to open at several locations, we called in at Stockbury on the way back from Marden, where I had hosted an orchid group meet up, and we found several Lady Orchids open, though the Lesser Butterflies were still only in bud.

On May 2nd on the way back from Bonsai, we called in at Lydden where I found several Man Orchid spikes in flower, still thriving on a roadside verge near to Dover at the top of a down.

This year I learned a new botanical term: peloric. This is where a plant will revert to a former, older version of the plant, with flowers symmetrical in a different plane. Something like that. I met up with two online friends who came to Kent, and we went to hunt down these rare EPO, of which we found two spikes at the bottom of a scramble down a down.

The “green” Fly also returned this year. Several of them again.

Sadly, no Burnt Tips again this year in the county, or at the site I know anyway. Spikes could have appeared elsewhere, but I did not hear of any, or any I can trust, anyway.

By the middle of the month the Lesser Butterflies were finally out in mid-Kent, so an early morning trip up there before the roadworks on the new motorway junction will make the site inaccessible for two years, four out of about eight spikes in flower, and looking fine in the weak sunshine.

The next day, another early morning trip up onto the downs brought the first Late Spider in flower. A week later than usual, this one spike is always first to open, peeking out from behind the electric fence. On Wye Down a week later revealed over 20 spikes in flower, and within a week the site had run out of wire cages to put onto the spikes to protect them. By the end of May, more than 30 plants were in flower here, though no sign of the mono-coloured spike.

A good year too for Monkeys, with over a hundred spikes out at PGD, and most out by May 21st, which is very early. Peak Monkey used to be the first weekend in June. Not any more.

More good news is that resurgence in Bird’s-nest spikes. At our local site, in 2019 and 2020, no spikes seen, and the two years before then, jut one or two. So the 40 seen this year was very impressive indeed, and a significant improvement on the 27 seen last year. The White Helleborine at the same site began to open at the same time, and in good numbers too.

The same weekend saw Common Spotted Orchids begin to flower at Pegwell Bay, were there were many Dacht x Grandis partially in flower too. Partial site clearance had taken place, so there were a good number of spikes to be seen, and the local cuckoo had returned again, though went unseen.

Having become a member of the Sandwich Bay Observatory means I can go onto the estate as many times as I like free of charge now, as long as I part in the observatory car park. So, another early start to look at the Lizard Orchids that were beginning to flower on 25th May, a species which used to only flower in June and July. I would return a couple of more times to see the spikes in full flower.

The next day I went out hunting a hybrid. Late Spiders can be found in a few locations, and a couple of the lesser known ones also have Bee Orchids growing, raising the possibility of hybrids of the two showing. It seems these are not wanted, and suspect plants might be being removed.

I suppose I should say that like in Oxfordshire were Lady and Monkey have produced an amazing hybrid swarm, the two parent plants are something of an afterthought. A friend pointed out that a site which is one of the very few outside Kent for either, these should be nurtured. Seems that someone has the same though over Ophrys × albertiana, even if Ophrys species don’t produce swarms in the same way as Orchis do.

I had no real expectations of finding a hybrid, it was glorious to be out early in the morning, dew laying heavy in the grass, so much so my feet were soon sodden. The LSOs grow at the bottom of the down, and the Bees at the top, I looked along the footpath, then above me on a wide ledge, something caught my eye. A bee-like Ophrys but with the sticking out lip of an LSO. I snapped it and was all of a futter.

So much so that later that morning meeting up with a friend at a farm near Ashford to look at how reintroduction of Southern Marsh had gone, I was bursting to tell people, I told my friend.

The farm had more “than a few” SMO, as the areas round the edge of fields were dotted with dozens, hundreds, thousands or orchids, contrasting fine with the yellow carpet of buttercups around them.

On the final day of this holiday weekend, was the annual trip up t the Medway Valley to hunt for the Early Marsh and check up on the various hybrids that can be found there. The multi-spike of Dacht x grandis were impressive as ever, and a good two weeks ahead of the previous year, and a good half dozen EMO spikes seen too.

The first week of June was spent in Wales, so upon our return, back out to check on the Chalk Fragrants at PGD, where I was rewarded with an unusual spike forming two flowering interflorances, though return visits proved it impossible to locate again.

June 10 also brought us the first tiny Musk Orchid, and another group meet where I had planned to show members the tiny orchid. And even I had to reply on grid reference from another friend.

We returned to the Council Offices in Whitfield to gaze in wonder at the Bee and Pyramidals there, and the bi-colour one reappeared again, which is always good to see, like meeting an old friend.

Talking of old friends, our garden Pyramidal reappeared for a second year, though hidden in deep undergrowth, I got the shears out to give it more light. And even better is that I located next season’s rosette in October this year too, which means it’ll return next year too.

I guess another sour note is the state of the reserve at Hothfield, where vegetation has nearly wiped the population of Heath Spotted from near the path, meaning most remaining spikes were out in the stagnant pools. Nature England were there doing a survey, and they were shocked at the lack of care by KCC of the site.

Sadly, one to watch.

Marsh Helleborines were in full flower early too at the end of June, and another species doing well this year, as the spikes have spread to other parts of the fenced meadow. A break from orchids until the end of July when on the last weekend we found both Violet and Broad Leaved Helleborines in flower in the Elham Valley. And the Violets increased the number of flowering spikes there, doubling the number from last year. I could not justify going to north Kent for the Green Flowered Helleborines this year. Friends went and none were photographed as being open, which should surprise no one. And so, to the final species, the 26th Kent species, Autumn Lady’s Tresses were in good numbers up on the downs above Dover once again.

Wednesday 28th December 2022

When the wind blows and the rain falls. Sideways. You either put on your best waterproofs or you decide to sit it out.

We sat it out.

And the other thing is, although we don't sleep well during the summer when the sun rises in the middle of the night, soon after we go to bed. But, come winter, especially in the period between Christmas and New Year, and still a weekend away from a return from the grindstone, we can sleep for England. No matter what time we go to bed, we sleep until dawn or beyond.

As it was on Wednesday, we lay in bed until eight, and already the sun was up, but hidden behind rain clouds that were throwing down large amounts of rain that the wind was sending sideways.

We sat inside, had coffee, had breakfast and listened to a Joe Strummer special on 6 Music.

Worse ways to spend the day.

The main task was to clear some old clothes out of the loft. Mostly mine, stuff from my past that no longer fits and yet I was reuctant to throw away before. Three large sacks of stuff were brought down, and most is heading for the tip. Its not that we will use the space in the loft, just less to sort through for other people.

Or something.

Lunch was a large carbonara, and a whole baguette made into garlic bread. And wine.

Outside the rain continued, and so we ate, put on the radio and the day slipped by.

That cats went out, and came back in very soon after.

Somehow, the evening came and so for me, Leeds v Citeh. Closer than it should have been, but the boy Haarland scorded two, missed two more and so the Mancs won 3-1.

Tuesday 27th December 2022

Twixmas.

The period between Christmas and New Year, taken up with, mostly eating.

Eating leftovers and gifts received at Christmas.

Twix sandwiches.

Cold meat and Quality Street.

Crisps.

You get the idea.

It was, I thing, Tuesday. Hard to tell, to be honest.

We are, at least, sleeping a lot. Laying in bed until eight, or thereabouts. Sometimes, Cle comes into the bedroom lets out a despairing wail-cum-meow, hoping we'll get up and feed her.

We do in time. Outside its bloody cold, after a week of rain and wind, frost returned.

We had coffee.

The plan was to laze around until about 11. Have lunch of cold meat, chips and Boston Beans, tidy up and see what we fancied doing.

Jools did go swimming though.

I spend the morning trying to finish editing all the church photographs I have taken this month. No idea what the rush is, just seemed important that I do.

Anyway, I spend the morning like that, Jools comes back and I cook what part of lunch needed cooking.

Cold stuffing, pigs in blankets, chips, Boston Beans and bubble & squeak. Which is mashed potatoes and vegetables then fried.

We wash up, then Jools watches two episodes of Better Call Saul, and I do other stuff. Outside it rained so put a a walk in doubt.

When I stopped I still wasn't keen, so what would you like to do, Jools asks.

Go to the Freed Man, try their strong, dark mild and play Uckers.

Which is what we do.

Others in the pub were talking loudly, paying our game little or no attention. Jools wins on the last piece, and that is that.

She drives us back home at dusk, in time for a brew, a slice of Christmas cake and start of the first game of the evening.

Chelsea and Man Utd win. In pouring rain.

Smithgone

Yesterday afternoon, it was announced that Norwich had sacked their manager of 13 months, Dean Smith.

Deano had previously been manager of Aston Villa and had got them to a play off (lost), another play off (won), then survived a season in thePremier League, and each year pretty much had to rebuild a new squad.

That he lost his job less than 24 hours after Norwich were on the market for a new manger, it seemed too good to be true.

Sadly, it was.

He could not keep us in the Premier League, so we were relegated in May, and so all was set for a new beginning back in the Championship. Our last two season at this level had seen us win the title at a canter. We had a larger, stronger squad with a manager who knew how to get the best out of minimal resources.

Promotion was a given.

And yet it never clicked. Either last season or this.

I believed.

I beleieved that he had done a good, similar job before, so would do the same again for us.

A losing start turned into t a winning streak, we were second in the league early in October, and despite not playing well, were just fine.

Some said that winning when playing poorly would mean at some point playing poorly and losing.

I laughed and kept believing.

But we kep on losing.

A four week break, and a warm weather break in the US would refocus things. We would come back a better team.

Shots were posted on social media of players in the sun, laughing and smiling. So, a new beginning when the season restarted?

Sadly, not.

And with the best squad possible at this level, a preseason and now a four game reset, and still no improvement, what is a club to do? Carry on hoping that things will change, or say, enough is enough, and change.

There are good decisions and bad decisions.

If the end point is that we go up either by the play offs or automatically, then it would have worked.

I hold no animosity to Smith or Craig Shakespeare, just want my club to do weel Friends who go week in, week out, have had enough, and change had to come.

I trust their view.

So, a week before the tansfer window, we're looking for yet another permanent manager.

Dead pop stars

On two of my first solo trip to the US, famous pop/rock stars died.

Geoge Harrison died on 29th November 2001, and I was in the US.

I thought I knew George and his output.

He was in The Beatles (they had a hit or tow)

A solo career, the first solo number 1 by a former Beatle. Apparently.

And was a memeber of the fictional supergroup, The Travelling Wilburys.

I knew of his work with the Beatles. The hits anyway. And some of his solo work: Got my Mind Set on You and When we was Fab.

But what elese?

Well, that weekend on all radio stations they played his music. Almost all of which I had not heard before. I guess mainly his early solo stuff from All Things Must Pass, but there was lots of stuff with an Indian tinge, and I was amazed that I had never heard any of this stuff before.

Thing is, punk embedded this "year zero" belief in that nothing before 1976 was worth even thinking about.

I Hate Pink Ployd was the logo on John Lydon's t shirt.

And yet he didn't really hate them, because very little music or art springs into existance without any previous references.

Mauny stars of the 60s music scene from the UK are pretty much unknown in their home country: Jeff Beck, for example. And yet are on a pedestal in the US. Beck could walk down any hight street in the UK and pass un-noticed.

Growing up, Led Zeppelin were derided. A byword for music of the past. Something of the rock dinosaurs that punk and new wave swept away. Tehn, in 1990, a compliation album of their best known work was released, remastered. Or Remastered. And I can remember the review in Q Magazine that was a revaltion for me as a reader, and the person doing the review.

No one makes fun of Led Zeppelin now. They used to.

I was in the same kitchen in the same trailer 13 months later when Joe Strummer's death was announced.

Joe was someone I admired, and had been lucky enough to see fronting The Pogues in the brief period when that band decided they could deal with Shane's shit any more.

They opened with White Riot and ended with Straight to Hell. The rest was Pogues tunes.

I also saw Joe support The Who. I have no memory of that night in 2000. I would remember it now, treasure every moment.

I always liked The Clash, but grew to love them, especially Sandinista and Combat Rock, which is even now one of my favourites.

So, I have no idea how either death was covered in the UK. By the time I returned both times, they had been buried and we moved onto the next new record.

George has been gone 21 years, and Joe 20 years.

Joe appeared on Radio 6 in the first few weeks it started, but passed away when it was much less than a year old.

Last night 6 played three hours of Joe, including a recording of his very last concert in England. Every track was wonderful, including with the 101ers.

What is the point of this post?

I have no idea.

I have learned in the meantime that there was great music before 1976. Stories to be told and shared.

I wish I'd have known.

Round up

COVID.



A new wave is under way.

Esitmates suggest that just 1/25th of cases are being reprted, and now the Government won't updata data, so we have no idea what the situation is.

China has abandoned its zero COVID pilicy and 60% of their population, or 10% of the global population, is expected to catch it in the next eight weeks.

Social distancing and masks help greatly. But that's far too difficult.

Same in the UK where wearing masks in care homes is not now mandatory. Like the Government just enjoys killing old and sick people.

No free test kits, no mandatory isolation for those infected. People carryng on working when sick.

Spreading, spreading.



Brexit.

Nothing is changing in the world of Brexit.

Other than that the true believers are saying, "That's not my Brexit" as much promised benefits have failed to appear.

The majority of people want closer relations with Europe and the EU, not least business, who are demanding some stability in order for them to be able to plan with certainty.

The proposed inport checks have now been delayed until 2024, and might now never be introduced. Same as the UK standards shite mark, also delayed long time.

Like it was a bad idea.

Fancy.

I write little about it now, as there's no point until there is material change. Just so you know, its still shit.

I did read a good article with compared Brexit with prohibition, and how long the latter took to reverse even when it was clear it was enriching the mob and not stopping drinking. Its main point was that the Democrats ignored it when the next Presidential election came round, just promised to uphold the Constitution and every amendement.

Which is Labour's stance with Brexit.

We shall see.

At some point someone is going to say the unsayable, that Brexit was always going to be shit, and will never be able to be done "properly" or in a way to make it work.

The UK is about to sign a trade deal with Isreal, but won't publish impact assessments on GDP, as "its not appropriate". If it was good news, you can be sure it would be published. But, draw your own conclusions.

So, happy new year from Brexit island, where we imposed economic sanctions on ourselves, and are now wondering whay we're so poor and there is 1.8 million vacancies. The Government's latest wheeze is to get retirees back into work.

Good luck with that.

The NHS is in crisis; a decade of under-investment, wage restrictions and now the flow of labour from the EU has been turned off, waiting lists are at an all time high, statisfation with the NHS, at a record high when the Tories came to power in 2010 is now at an all time low.

There is a wave of flu causing wards and hospitals to be overwhelemed, and becaue of a lack of carers in the community, many who are well enough, can't be discharged.

Strikes by nurses, paramedics and ambulance drivers are now under way, an instituation cut to the bone, so there is no more fat to cut. Moral plunged.

No money for nurses, but money for cuts to inheritance taxes.

Good old Tories.

They have broken Britain.

Monday 26th December 2022

The day after.

I opened the secret Santa gift I received, but Jools hadn't opened the gifts she received from folks at work. Choclates, shortbread and After Eigt mints, mostly.

Now, I had bought a huge piece of beef to have for luch with Mike and Gorge, but they had plans from the big day, and Mike was working on Boxing Day, so it was just the two of us.

Jools had the idea of cutting the joint in two, and freezing half, which made sense, as we would have struggled with over 5lb of cooked beef and the left over salt beef too.

I got the biggest and sharpest knife, cut in (nearly) half, bagged and put into the freezer the larger half. Seasoned and floured what was left, and put in the tin to warm up before cooking.

After coffee, we would go for a walk.

So, before lunch. I say lunch.

Roast beef and all the extras.

We went for a walk.

Despite the mud we went almost to the top of Windy Ridge, to the bench, had a sit and a think, then down to the cross lane and back along Collingwood.

As you can see, it was a glorious day, endless sunshine, which would mean a chilly night later.

And these are the days of long shadows, even at midday they stretched pretty much the width of a field.

We worked up a proper appetite.

So, back home and on with the oven, put in the meat. Mix up the Yorkshire pudding batter, boil potatoes and prepare the vegetables for steaming. It all took about two hours, what with the half hour needed to rest the meat, then carve and serve.

It was amazing. I mean, everything was done to a turn, maybe the gravy a tad too salty, but OK when poured over the meal.

Boxing Day is football day, and the day on which the Prem returned. And Norwich would play in the last game to ruin a perfect day.

Probably.

Jools set up her laptop as the Prem was on Amazon, while she cleared away and washed up. She is a star.

Liverpool beat Villa and Newcastle thrashed Leicester.

And so to Norwich. A must win game away at Luton kicking off at quarter to eight.

And it was another no show from City.

For 70 minutes, we offered next to nothing, while luton pressed and passed the ball around, it was the least they deserved when they scored.

Norwich woke up.

Levelled.

And then Luton were reduced to ten men.

Should have been a cake walk.

And then the midfield went to sleep, the ball sprung forward and lashed home.

A 2-1 defeat.

Grim.