Common Spotted Orchid
Both the Southern Marsh and Common Spotted Orchids are to be found at Park Hall Countryside Park - where this photograph was taken. The Southern Marsh is the darker of the two. However, the two do readily hybridise. They produce a magnificent display during late June and early July. They produce flower spikes up to 30cm in height. Parkhall Countryside Park in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, is situated in Stoke South parliamentary constituency; Parkhall comprises of 333 acres based on a sandstone ridge. The geological features give the park its status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and it also has National Nature Reserve (NNR) status. Mentioned in 1449 as a deer park, drift coal mining started in the 19th Century. Between 1939 and 1970 quarrying of sand and gravel took place; afterwards it was used as a rubbish tip. In 1971 Stoke-On-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council drew up plans to reclaim the land with the park opening in 1981. The stone formation make it place of geological interest. Over 100 species of birds have been recorded. Rarieties include: firecrest, crossbill and hoopoe. All five species of British owl have been seen. There are 20 small pools with newts, frogs, toads and Europe's largest dragonfly - The Emperor. Mammals include: rabbits, hares, stoats, foxes and badgers. Wild flowers include: lady's smock, tormentil, trefoils, vetches, buttercup, cow parsley, hogweed, woody nightshade (bittersweet) and orchids. 19 species of butterfly have been recorded including: orange tip, brimstone, speckled wood, small pearlboarded fritillary, small copper and meadow brown.
Size: 5313px × 3518px
Location: Parkhall Countryside Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Photo credit: © dean nixon / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -lobed, asparagales, bloom, blossoms, botanical, cluster, common, cone-shaped, dactylorhiza, dark, datylorhiza, deciduous, delicate, delightful, flowering, fuchsii, green, habitats, lance-shaped, lanceolate, leaf, leaves, light, lillopsida, lips, magenta, magnoliophyta, mauve, orchid, orchidaceae, pattern, perennial, perfumed, pink, plant, praetermissa, pretty, purple, raceme, spike, spikes, spotted, summer, symmetrical, tuberous, unmarked, varying, widespread, wild
