Summertime is Orchid time on the Trans Pennine Trail

During the summer you should see lots of wild flowers of all colours on the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT). The ones I look forward to the most are orchids.

They love dampish conditions so unfortunately with a hot dry spring many are already over. But there are others yet to come. Orchids are classified in families and the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust website provides good descriptions of the different species.  These are the ones I look for along the Trail in  Longdendale.

The Common spotted orchid is like it says, reasonably common. It can vary in colour from white-ish with pink spots to darker pink. The leaves are also spotted.

If you see one that looks a bit like it but is a bit bigger, darker and maybe taller, then it could be a Southern Marsh orchid. They like the damp and are usually magenta (purple-red) in colour.

There’s a second group of orchids that bloom from midsummer onwards and these are called Helleborines.

Broad leaved helleborines are the commonest on the Longdendale section of the Trail but they are easy to miss with this greenish colour as they blend in with the ferns and other foliage.

There are also some rare helleborines about but I won’t tell you where because these plants are vulnerable. It is illegal to collect wild plants and orchids are in need of our protection so I’ll not disclose the exact locations.

The Dune helleborine is the rarest plant I’ve seen on the Trail. It’s a more delicate plant than the broad leaved helleborine, smaller and hides well in damp places.

Any plant that prefers a damp environment is susceptible to climate change. An early, longer, drier spring can have an effect on growth and flowering for the whole year and I’d be surprised if this year’s hot dry spring hasn’t had an effect.

Tread carefully when looking for orchids as they can be small and easily squashed, like the common twayblade I saw earlier this year. When I was first learning the names of orchids I used a book, but now there are plenty of websites to help with identification as well. Have a look next time you’re out and about on your local section – it’s a great excuse to take plenty of photos and enjoy the Trail.

Janet Lees
Twitter – X @Bambigoesforth
Instagram  @bambigoeswild

Date: 11th July, 2025