Soldiers still at home in their fields

I went to see the Military Orchids today at their classic site in the Chilterns, now managed brilliantly by BBOWT, the local wildlife trust. There are good numbers just coming into flower - unlike 1929, when a mixture of collecting and habitat loss led to this spectacular orchid being declared extinct in Britain. Subsequently there was an amazing story, which sums up the character and determination of British botanists. First of all Orchis militaris was rediscovered in May 1947 'by accident' by the great botanist Ted Lousley - he and his family had stopped for a picnic in a valley in the Chilterns where trees had recently been felled during WWII. He admits that their picnic spots were always well chosen to allow him to pursue his interest in botany!

Lousley kept the location secret, fearing that collectors would wipe out this colony as well. Later, in 1956, two other great botanists, Richard Fitter and Francis Rose, found the site with the orchids blooming. They sent a postcard to Lousley with the cryptic message "The soldiers are at home in their fields", the latter part being a subtle reference to the exact location. The site was still kept secret. In 1969 BBOWT took over management and eventually, in 1975, there was a press release giving some details, resulting in a headline "The Beauty that must blossom in secret". For a number of years following this the blooms were guarded 24/7 each year. Eventually, with attitudes hopefully changing, the secrecy and guarding ceased...and there were really disappointing years when plants were dug up. Hopefully it is now much safer.

Here you can see one on the individual florets, looking like a human figure with a large helmet - hence the old common name of Soldier Orchid, followed by Military Orchid.