A new Red List for Great Britain’s vascular plants has shown that while a quarter of species are threatened, there have been success stories, including the fen orchid.

Fen orchids have small yellow flowers and distinctive green leaves that wrap around the base of a single stem. In Norfolk they grow on moss or sedge tussocks within open fens. 

NWT Reserves Assistant Ella Broom explains how our conservation work has contributed to its comeback.

‘On NWT Upton Broad and Marshes, work has been carried out over decades to improve our population of fen orchid. Cutting trials were conducted in the late 1990s which showed that a yearly cut of the fen in late summer benefited the plant the most. Around this time, the woodland edge was pushed back across the reserve and scrub removed from the open areas that remained, reclaiming lost fen and giving the vegetation more space and light to grow and thrive.

'Upton fen has unique hydrology and chemistry that suits the fen orchid. It is fed by natural springs that flow up from the chalk aquifer giving the fen consistent alkaline hydrology.'

‘We cut approximately 1.5 hectares at Upton every summer for the orchid and, with help from volunteers, rake and remove the cuttings. This ensures the fen remains nutrient poor and keeps the vegetation low. The fen orchid can then grow with less competition.

‘In mid-June we carry out a thorough fen orchid survey. We line up with our volunteers and count every flowering and non-flowering plant we find across the main growing site. The population has grown from only a handful of orchids up to 3,500 plants in recent years. The return of the fen orchid is a great example that targeted conservation work across organisations can make a massive, positive impact.’

Generous support from many funders including Biffa Award and FCC Communities Foundation has helped us improve conditions for fen orchid and other wildlife at Upton Broad and Marshes.