Summer in the orchard is the time when most wildlife can be seen.
It’s when flowers associated with wildflower meadows put in an appearance and we need to manage the orchard grass so it can grow, but not TOO long.
Pyramidal Orchid
We’re lucky that we have a couple of orchid species, including the pyramidal orchid. Orchids are mysterious flowers as they will lie dormant for years between flowering.
Self-Heal
Other flowers familiar to meadow watchers will be self-heal, and said to be a cure for sore throats. It’s a low growing, creeping plant, generally less than 30cm high, often less.
Hawkweed
We may also get a decent showing of hawkweed, bringing a welcome shot of bright orange
Yellow Rattle
As any meadow-maker knows, it is vital to stop the rough grasses growing up and swamping the wildflowers. This can be done with yellow rattle, which parasitises grasses and stops them from growing too strongly. We have a little yellow rattle in the orchard as pictured here, though not enough to avoid the need for a scythe cut in mid-late July.
Marmalade Hoverfly
One of the most important things about the orchard flora (and apple blossom of course) is that it provides food for insects on the next step up on the food chain. Here’s a lovely example of a marmalade hoverfly taking nectar from a devil’s bit scabious at the southern end of the orchard.
Banded Demoiselle
We’re fortunate that the orchard is close to the River Thames, so species that like water often visit. Poised on a low lying grass blade, is the banded demoiselle, also happy in ponds and canals.
Cardinal Beetle
Our orchard provides plenty of foliage for creatures to munch on, and where they go their predators will follow. Here a red-headed cardinal beetle lies in wait for a snack.
Ringlet
Our most familiar insects are surely the butterflies. Summer in our orchard has featured sightings of many favourites like the meadow brown and gatekeeper. Here a ringlet visits in early summer.
Burnished Brass Moth
A moth-trapping exercise in August 2023 found over 30 different species of night-flying moths, which were later released. Here’s one of them – the burnished brass moth
Scarlet Tiger Moth
Meanwhile, the scarlet tiger moth is more likely to be seen by casual visitors as it flies during the day as well as at night. Perhaps it likes our orchard because the abundant green alkanet is one of its caterpillar food plants.