Wildflower spotting in Cambridgeshire

It would seem Cambridgeshire has a lot to offer in the way of Wildflowers! And there's nothing like a good exploration of a wildflower meadow to lift the spirits (and make you feel like you're on an adventure!). It's always the same...you turn up, cast an eye and at first glance can see nothing of interest. It's only when you get down to ground level that the magic starts to happen! Here's what we (my other half and me - it was he who found Hills and Holes in the first place) discovered when we visited this amazing spot in Barnack.

It's amazing some of the colours of the Birdsfoot-trefoil. The odd one had retained this burnished orange.

 The bees were going crazy for all the flowers, but particularly this Tufted Vetch - which I'm delighted to say I've now got sprawling around my garden after ages coveting it in the countryside!

 

Was completely captivated by this plant on my visit and rushed home to look it up in my wildflower book! For those who are wondering, it's Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), a native biennial which is apparently fairly common in central and south west England, but rare elsewhere. It's deep reddish bells are so beautiful!

This oddity I found particularly beautiful!

 

Of all the wildflowers we've spotted it's Orchids which have been the most exciting of all! Pyramidal orchids are particularly rife at Hills and Holes! They're scattered through the grass here, there and everywhere with their little purple pom poms!

 

We were also treated to this stunner - a common spotted orchid? Far fewer of these...absolutely bursting with flower!

But, above and beyond all of these on the enchantment scale was the Bee Orchid. Ever elusive and capricious we tracked this one down not at Hills and Holes, but Lyveden - a National Trust property - not far away. It took some scouring (and as you can see they were hiding amidst red clover!) but we found a cluster eventually!! Gorgeous!!