23/07/2024
Rare flowers spotted by Flagship operatives in Suffolk town
A routine day at work turned into an exciting discovery for two of Flagship’s dedicated grounds maintenance operatives in Grundisbugh, who stumbled upon a pair of the uncommon and unusal bee orchids.
Grounds maintenance operative Gary Baggott next to one of the bee orchids
Bee orchids, among the most fascinating and visually striking wildflowers in the UK, are named for remarkable resemblance to female bees, which they use to lure male bees in to help with the plant's pollination – although this species of bee is not native to the UK, so here the flowers are self-pollinating.
While not classified as endangered, bee orchids are nonetheless declining and considered uncommon, and are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in the UK, so their appearance is relatively rare.
Side by side close-ups of the bee orchids at the Stoney Road site in Grundisburgh
The discovery comes amid a Flagship programme to create 150 new wildflower meadows on its 1,000+ green spaces each year until 2030. While the area at Stoney Road in Grundisburgh is not yet designated one of these sites, the presence of these orchids is a surprising one which demonstrates that these flowers can thrive in unexpected locations.
Grounds maintenance operative Gary Baggott, who spotted the flowers alongside colleague Joseph Wicko, said: “As soon as we saw them we knew what they were. They’re such beautiful, distinctive flowers, and it felt really special to see some in the wild.
“Even though it’s not one of the designated meadow sites it’s amazing to see them growing spontaneously, and we’ll take extra care around here during the flowering period to make sure they’re not disturbed.”
While their rarity varies regionally, they’re a little more common in the southern England compared to northern areas but nonetheless an unusual find. The discovery of these orchids by Flagship’s operatives underscores the importance of ongoing conservation and the careful maintenance of local environments.
Biodiversity and land manager for Flagship, Daniel Salliss, said: “We are thrilled by this discovery, and it highlights the richness of our local biodiversity and the critical role our team plays in preserving it.
“Through our biodiversity strategy we’ve committed to increasing biodiversity on our land across the east of England for the benefit of our tenants and the environment. It’s a lovely surprise to see something like these orchids thriving, even in an urban environment, and we’ll be sure to keep these safe and look out for more.”
Bee orchids typically flower in the UK around May to July, and this is not the first time they’ve been spotted in Flagship’s areas with some found last summer in the Woodbridge area as well. To learn more about Flagship’s ongoing biodiversity initiatives, follow Flagship Group on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.