Marbled White

Out with the South Lincolnshire Flora Group today, exploring the botanical delights of Ancaster. We spent the morning at  Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's Ancaster Valley NR and the afternoon at Moor Closes NR, whose contrasting habitats ensured that the overall species count was pretty impressive.

It was the peak of the orchid flowering season and in total we found six species, and at least one hybrid - it was quite surprising to find both Chalk Fragrant-orchid and Early Marsh-orchid in perfect condition on the same day, but it has been a very odd year weather-wise! We saw many other wonderful species including a profusion of Dyer's Greenweed, Squinancy-wort, Kidney-vetch and Tall Thrift.

Marbled Whites and Chimney-sweeper moths were abundant in Ancaster Valley, though the latter didn't stay still for a photograph!