Ferring Rife

It was a pleasure to get out and about today, albeit for just a couple of hours. The sunshine and clear blue skies made a great change from Sky Sports and endless daytime TV adverts.

Each year I visit the rife specifically to monitor the Southern Marsh and Early Marsh Orchids. Whilst I don't do an actual count, I normally make a fairly objective assessment. I am glad to report that the population appears to be in fine health, not the numbers of 2011 but they seem to be far more widespread, in that smaller specimens can be found as far as the hedgerow boundaries of the lagoons. It is possible that seed has been distributed by the high floods in the past. Also, it is great to note that the spoil heaps of the excavations carried out by the Environment Agency are being colonised.

Early Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza incarnate

 

Southern Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza praetermissa

With last year's flowering stem

A smaller specimen on the edge of the lagoon

Spotted leaves



A profusion of Dactylorhizae

North lagoon

A good sign - colonisation of the spoil heaps

Flag irises always look good

South lagoon

Super size spike