How do you move 200 wild orchids? Answer: very carefully!
5 min read
This summer, colleagues and volunteers came together for one of the North East's most delicate conservation operations – carefully lifting around 200 native wild orchids by hand and giving them a new home.
Dormant Northern Marsh Orchids and Pyramidal Orchids were rescued from Greenabella Marsh and replanted at RSPB Saltholme and Seaton Common National Nature Reserve, where they now have the best possible chance of flourishing for years to come.
Part of Greenabella Marsh will become intertidal habitat as part of the Environment Agency's Greatham North East Flood Alleviation Scheme (subject to planning).
Although there was no legal requirement to relocate the orchids, partners agreed it was the right thing to do to safeguard these beautiful native plants before habitat changes take place.
Because the orchids are currently dormant beneath the soil, they could be carefully lifted by hand, transported and replanted in specially selected sites with suitable habitat and existing orchid populations. The results won't be known until next spring, when we hope to see fresh leaves and flowers emerging.
The translocation brought together around 20 volunteers alongside colleagues from the Environment Agency, RSPB Saltholme, Hartlepool Borough Council, Tees Rivers Trust, Cleveland Naturalists' Field Club, Natural England and orchid specialist Suzanne Noble from British Orchids.
Each orchid was carefully dug up, its underground tuber cleaned and replanted on the same day. Seeds were also collected and sown to help strengthen future orchid populations.
There are never any guarantees when moving wild plants, but by selecting suitable habitat and using the latest conservation techniques, the team has given these orchids the best possible chance of thriving.
If the orchids emerge and flower next spring, it will mark the beginning of a new chapter for these beautiful native plants—and a conservation success made possible through partnership, expertise and plenty of careful teamwork.
