Orchids

Venue Hampshire Downland

Date: Wed 6 June 2012

Duration: 10am - 4pm

Places: 8 maximum

Cost: £99.99

 

 

 

Orchids are one of the largest of the plant families and are found throughout the world. In the UK they are perennial and it is possible to be photographing different orchids for six months of the year although the majority are found during May and June. On this workshop we travel to a really beautiful area of chalk downland in Hampshire to a great site for a variety of orchids plus several other wild flowers including broomrapes, not to mention a range of downland butterflies.

It may come as a shock if I tell you that there almost 150 species, sub species and named varieties of wild orchids to be found in Britain. If you really are keen to find out exactly what they are I would thoroughly recommend two books by a late friend of mine D.M.Turner Ettlinger a renowned writer and photographer of orchids. If you can locate them, you will need both, the books are entitled “Notes on British and Irish Orchids” and ”Illustrations of British and Irish Orchids” both companion volumes published in 1997.

This really is a thoroughly nice course to go on as there is no need for heavy tripods and long lenses. The reserve is way out in the countryside so the surroundings are peaceful and idyllic. Among the ten orchid varieties we would hope to find on this workshop are early purple, common spotted (including a white variety), pyramidal, fragrant, bee, fly, frog, birds nest, musk and common twayblade. 

A word of warning! Taking part in this workshop may lead to a lifetime compulsion for orchid hunting.

One to One Workshops

If you would prefer to have a 6 hour 1-1 workshop on this subject the cost is £150 per day plus £20 travelling expenses.