Rare orchid grows in Morecambe

The lady's slipper orchid is being nurtured back to its former glory

Some of the country's rarest flowers have been planted in Morecambe Bay's limestone hills.

The lady's slipper orchid is the rarest of British wild flowers.

Records show that the orchid grew in England in the limestone areas of Yorkshire, Cumbria and Durham from the 17th Century.

Many plants were collected by botanists up to the end of the 19th Century, but by 1917 the species was declared extinct in Britain.

At Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve near Silverdale, the lady's slipper orchid is being nurtured back to its former glory by Natural England's species recovery programme.

Positive signs

Working closely with a team of specialists at Kew Gardens, staff at Gait Barrows have been learning how to restore the plant to the wild.

Seeds from private collections are cross-pollinated with the wild plant to produce genetic vigour and variability of seeds. Kew Gardens then germinate these seeds and produce small plantlets which are carefully grown on until ready for introduction into the wild.

The process has started at a number of sites within the previous natural range of the orchid but the most positive signs of success are in the wooded limestone hills around Morecambe Bay.

Natural England's Chief Executive, Dr Helen Phillips, said, "We are hoping to open up the viewing area to the public next year so everybody can see the orchid flourishing once more in the north of England."