Marsh Gentian

I've been monitoring the declining fortunes of the Marsh Gentians on our local nature reserve for the past twelve years. In 2018 I thought they had finally disappeared altogether as I didn't find a single plant. Then in 2019 a resurgence with 14 flowering spikes on one site and nine on the other. Sadly this year it looks like a return to form, so far there are only three flowering spikes at the main colony and none at all on the smaller one. I suspect a combination of drought, heatwave and lack of grazing has inhibited this spectacular flower.