Orchids are the superstars of the wildflower world. With 57 species in the UK, there's many orchids to be discovered.
Visit our nature reserves to see these delicate and unique flowers growing in their natural habitats.
Where to see orchids
Find out which of our nature reserves are best for native orchids.
Bee Orchid, Ophrys apifera, close up of flower, raindrops, June, Norfolk - Dawn Monrose
Common Spotted Orchid, Burkmar
Man Orchid, Bruce Shortland
Marbled White on Pyramidal Orchid ©Guy Edwardes/2020VISION
Bird's Nest Orchid, Philip Precey
Terry Whittaker / 2020 Vision
Find orchids near you
You can see orchids throughout the UK, flowering between April and September, hitting peak flowering season from May. Tempting as it may be, don’t pick the flowers. Orchids look their best out in the wild, and some species are legally protected so you could be breaking the law. Here are some of our favourite reserves for orchid sightings.
Langdon Nature Discovery Park
Langdon Nature Discovery Park is 461 acres and home to one of our Coronation meadows, where you can see thousands of orchids including common spotted, southern marsh and green-winged orchids.
Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve
At our Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve the grassland and glades bloom with colour in the spring and summer, with numerous orchid species popping up throughout.
Thameside Nature Discovery Park
Thameside is home to our recipient Coronation Meadow, this 10-year-old wildflower meadow boasts bee and pyramidal orchid.
Horndon Meadow Nature Reserve
Our Horndon Meadow Nature Reserve is home to more than 80 species of wildflower, including hundreds of green-winged orchids.
Chafford Gorges Nature Discovery Park
Our Chafford Gorges Nature Discovery Park is home to numerous orchid species and counts this year show record numbers of man and pyramidal orchids.
Coronation Meadow at Langdon Nature Discovery Park
Record your wildflower sightings
If you've seen any wildflower in Essex, we want to know. This data can help us paint a better picture of climate change in the county. So, whether you've found a native orchid or a more common bloom, snap a photo and contribute to the University of Essex's research.
