An Ironbridge nature reserve is celebrating its 20th anniversary of orchid counting on Sunday, June 23 - and needs your help!
Prior to 2005, Lodge Field in Ironbridge was a derelict site that had been grazed by horses and was being invaded by coarse grasses and brambles. Local ecologist John Box took it upon himself to volunteer his time and advise the Lodge Field Group, which had just started up, and who shared the management of the site with Telford & Wrekin Council.
Each year, John invites anyone from the local community to share his passion and to get involved in a count of the orchid population in the field. Orchids as well as being beautiful are a good indicator of species rich meadow and Lodge Field is now the home of both common spotted orchid and a few marsh orchids. At the first count in 2005 a total of 19 orchids were recorded. Over the years this number has steadily grown to a peak in 2022 when a staggering total of some 5,146 were counted.
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