The National Trust for Jersey’s site at La Blinerie sits half in St Clement and half in Grouville and it is Jersey’s best location to see wild orchids. It is only open to the public when the orchids are in flower so please stick to the road to observe. The three most numerous orchid species at this site are:
- Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa)
- Jersey Orchid (Anacamptis laxiflora)
- Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsia)
This site requires consistent management to maintain its rich plant species diversity and its careful management means that it is an important reserve for orchids. Orchids are fascinating flowers due to their relationship with microscopic soil fungi as the fungi provide the orchids with nutrients, different species use different fungal species. Grazing animals spend time here over winter and this allows more plants to re-grow in the spring. The orchids flower between late May and July. After the plants have flowered and set seed, the field is cut for hay, in August.
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