Orchids in Carmarthenshire
We think that the best bit of running The Cwtch at Forge Cottage, have been the people we have met who have enhanced our lives.
Other than running a small business, we have learnt a lot from them.
A lovely couple who stayed here, are orchid experts, who left early, to ensure their orchids at home were okay during a very hot week.
It is illegal to pick wild orchids, but once you have seen one, we are sure you’d want others to be able to revel in their beauty.
According to Carmarthenshire County Council, 15 types of orchid have been identified in Laugharne and Pendine Burrows.
Having been encouraged by our friends to look out for orchids, we’ve have been fortunate to find the orchids in the photos and more.
Other orchids have been seen in the county include:
• Pendine Burrows (within 5 miles from the Cwtch) – the rare Fen Orchid, Pyramidal, Fragrant, Bee, Early Marsh and Heath Spotted Orchids
• Whitehill Down (within 5 miles of the Cwtch – in the other direction to Pendine Burrows) White Lesser Butterfly Orchid
• Llanelli Wetland Centre – Bee, Southern Marsh and Common Spotted Orchids
• Cae Blaen-dyffryn Nature Reserve – Lesser Butterfly Orchid
• Kenfig Nature Reserve – Pyradimal, Fragrant, Bee, Common Spotted, Early Marsh and Heath Spotted Orchids
• Bishops Park, Abergwili, Carmarthen – Common Spotted Orchid
• Cwmdu Meadows – Butterfly Orchid
• Wansford Meadows (near Carmarthen) – Southern Marsh Orchids
• National Botanic Gardens of Wales - Greater Butterfly Orchid
We are aware of other sites slightly further afield too.
Wild orchids in Wales are more likely to be found between May and July, although can be found between April and September.
Our friends have taught me how to look after our home orchids, which now flower for much longer and are healthier. I have a supermarket orchid that has now flowered constantly for 2 years.
There are many Orchid Societies across the UK, our friends are members of the Harrogate Orchid Society – why not click onto their website to see the type of activities and different orchids in the UK, grown by home enthusiasts and experts. Some of the orchids photographed, were found in Wales and the Societies photography far exceeds ours. www.harrogateorchidsociety.co.uk
If you live locally to Harrogate you can go to a meeting, without joining in the first instance. If you are visiting the area and want to attend a one off meeting, they are sure to make you welcome.
Why not come to the Cwtch at Forge Cottage to search for orchids between April and September, even though we can’t guarantee you will find any, we’ve been very lucky in the last couple of years and our searches continue. www.cwtch@forgecottage.co.uk