Orton verges, East Cumbria

A trip down south to several sites yesterday...first of all just off junction 39 of the M6: Orton verges. The quality of this strip of verge was comparable to the meadows of the Picos D' Europa in northern Spain - just a shame it is only a few hundred metres long. Oh to put surrounding fields under traditional management to see what returns!

Mainly northern marsh orchids ...

Northern marsh x common spotted hybrids, with typical hybrid vigour.

Frog orchids - note the long bracts of the right hand one which makes it var longibrachteatum.

Fragrant orchids - sp yet to be agreed upon.

 

Many, many twayblade.

Yellow rattle, red clover and crosswort, water avens and wood cranesbill.