Orchid species discovered in Jersey woodland for the first time

A species of orchid never before recorded in the Channel Islands has been discovered growing in a small woodland in Jersey.

The plant, Epipactis helleborine, or Broad-leaved Helleborine, is a woodland species that is relatively common in parts of the UK but had never been documented in Jersey until now.

The discovery was made earlier this month by a local botanist, who spotted a cluster of around 50 orchids in a shaded area of sycamore trees and recognised the species.

Anne Haden, Secretary of the Botany Section of the Société Jersiaise, confirmed the discovery and described the botanist as “excellent” in his field.

“They must have been there for a few years,” Ms Haden said. “But it has never been recorded in the Channel Islands before, so it is an exciting find.”

It follows two other notable finds around the islands.

Last November, a new species of moth was spotted in Alderney.

Then in July a routine bit of gardening turned into a record-breaking moment for a local mycologist who uncovered a rare, never-before-seen-in-Britain creature crawling among her flowers: the curiously named ‘Orange Bullet’.

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