Discover Essex’s orchids

This year, Essex Wildlife Trust has joined forces with international orchid experts to form a renowned orchid conservation team at Chelsea Flower Show. Four wild orchid species that grow on the Trust’s nature reserves (common spotted, green-winged, man and pyramidal) will be part of the display ‘Orchids in the Wild – The Beauty of Nature’ to showcase the county’s native orchids and the Trust’s important conservation work.

Since the 1930s, 97% of wildflower meadows has been lost. They are now one of the rarest habitats in the UK. This is of great concern for orchid conservation and all the wildlife these meadows support, including vital pollinators. Orchids are considered a ‘canary in the coal mine’ for extinction, as they are sensitive to environmental changes. Their disappearance from an area is often indicative of poor ecosystem health.  

Find out more about our projects to restore wildflower meadows and wildflowers in Essex.

Introduce someone you love to wildflowers by adopting a wild orchid for them. We'll send you a digital adoption pack including a digital certificate, fact file and wild orchid illustration. Your donation will be used to support Essex Wildlife Trust's work in the most effective way possible to make a difference to nature.

With your help, wild orchids and the habitats they live within can be protected and restored for the future. Help us make conservation happen by donating to us. If you are a business, charity or organisation looking for other ways to support our work, please get in touch using the button below. 

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