Look Wild: Protecting Orchids of the Dales
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Date posted: 29/06/2023
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Time to read: 6 minutes
Lady’s-slipper Orchid
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is home to nationally and internationally important landscapes and wildlife. Our 17 priority habitats include the species-rich hay meadows of the valley bottoms, the calcareous grasslands on the thin limestone soils, the upland ash and oak woodlands on the valley sides, and the fell top blanket bog and heathland. In the Dales we have more than 120 species which are national priorities for conservation action, including one of the rarest plants in the UK, the Lady’s-slipper orchid.
The Lady’s-slipper orchid is a very striking and special plant that grows up to 30cm tall. It can take up to ten years before flowering and, when it does, it produces just a single flower per plant, which appears in May or June.
It is the flower’s characteristic yellow slipper-shaped pouch that gives this species its name. These pouches attract bees which, once inside, can only get out through the narrow opening where they either collect or deposit pollen.
The species was once widespread and relatively common across the limestone areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. In fact, records from the late 1790s suggest that bundles of the flowers were sold on market stalls in Settle. But today the plant is perhaps the rarest species in the UK, with just one wild site in the country, which is here in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Because of its rarity, its location is undisclosed and protected to ensure that the orchid is not taken, as the illegal collection of wild orchids is still a problem.
Work has been undertaken to try and improve the fortunes of this species. Seeds have been successfully micro-propagated at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, and seedlings of the lady’s-slipper orchid have been reintroduced to a number of sites where it is now flowering.
In June, all 15 UK National Parks took part in a volunteering day focused on priority habitats and species and learning more about them. Up and down the country members of the public joined National Park Authority staff and other volunteers to conserve and enhance special places as part of the Look Wild Project. This project encourages people to record and learn about the nature around them at home and also when out and about in National Parks.
In the Yorkshire Dales our volunteering day saw members of the public meet at Kilnsey Park Estate in Wharfedale, one of the sites where the lady’s-slipper orchid has been re-introduced. They joined National Park Authority staff, Dales Volunteers and estate owner Jamie Roberts to help clear ground in order to conserve the habitat for the orchids. They also heard from Stella Hughes from Upper Wharefdale Field Society about the special qualities of Kilnsey Flush nature reserve, the importance of the orchids of the Dales and the incredible tale of decline and recovery of the lady’s-slipper orchid.
Kilnsey Park welcomes visitors to visit their nature reserve, visit their website for more information. You can also find more about the work of the Upper Wharfedale Field Society on their website.
Our National Parks tell the stories of the people and places that came before us.
A new Joint Statement on the Historic Environment in the National Parks of England, Scotland and Wales has launched.
Bringing together the 15 National Parks and heritage partners, the statement sets out a shared commitment to protecting the historic places and features that help shape our landscapes.
From ancient monuments and archaeological sites to historic buildings and traces of past generations, our National Parks are home to thousands of years of history.
Together, we’re working to care for these special places so their stories can continue to be discovered, valued and enjoyed for generations to come.
Read the full statement via the link in our bio 🔗
#NationalParks #UKHistory #Heritage
Hello, August. 💚
Some habits we’re holding on to this month, for our National Parks and for ourselves.
Little changes can have a lasting impact when it comes to caring for our 15 special places.
What will you be taking into August?
#UKNationalParks #UKOutdoors
Take a moment to pause in this ancient woodland 🌿
Even a small moment in nature can help us to feel calmer, more connected and refreshed.
For centuries, National Parks across the country have given people the space to reconnect with the natural world. Moments like this are why these places matter, and why we must continue to protect them.
📍This beautiful footage was captured in @exmoornp.
#Exmoor #UKWoodland #NationalParksUK
☀️Summer can unfold quietly in nature across our National Parks.
In @pembscoast it’s happening right now.
Wildflowers brighten the clifftops, from sea pinks and oxeye daisies. These colourful blooms don’t just look beautiful - they are also provide a vital food source for butterflies and bees. 🐝
These simple seasonal moments are a gentle reminder to slow down, take a closer look, and notice the quieter side of summer in nature. 🌼
#ParkSpotlight #Summer #UKNature
💚 It’s Love Parks Week! Share this with someone who loves the National Parks, or add it to your story to show others that you do too.
There’s so much to love about our National Parks. They’re not just great places to visit, they’re places that protect habitats, restore nature, support local families and businesses, and bring communities together.
We all have our own reasons for why these places are so special to us.
#LoveParksWeek #NationalParksUK
🦋 Some of the UK’s rarest butterflies find a home in our National Parks. Here are just a few.
From flower-rich meadows to ancient woodlands and heathlands, many of our landscapes provide the ideal conditions that butterflies need to thrive.
Every butterfly is a reminder of why these places matter and how we can all play a part in protecting them.
The Big Butterfly Count is happening now. If you’re out exploring this summer, take part and help build a picture of how our butterflies are doing 👉 bigbutterflycount.org
Photography 📸
@lloydlanephotography
Tammy Andrews
Lloyd Lane
Neil Hulme
#BigButterflyCount #ButterflyConservation #UKNature
There’s something truly magical about the craft and skill of dry stone walling. 🪨
These remarkable walls still zigzag for more than 5,000 miles across the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
They’re a lasting reminder of the generations of craftsmanship that have shaped our landscapes, and of the traditional skills that continue to thrive across the UK’s National Parks.
🎥 Yorkshire Dales National Park
#ParkSpotlight #YorkshireDales
History doesn’t only live in museums.
It’s woven into the landscapes of our National Parks. From hillforts and castles to ancient pathways and drystone walls - these are places where heritage isn’t just protected - it’s still part of everyday life. 💚
When we protect these landscapes, we also protect the stories, traditions and history within them.
📍Dartmoor National Park
#NationalParksUK #UKHistory
