Chappetts Copse Reserve, in Hampshire, comprises 12 hectares (30 acres) of ancient ash and beech woodland. Owned and managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, it is home to many rare plants, insects, mammals (including dormice), and fungi.
Orchids found at Chappetts Copse include sword-leaved helleborine, also known as narrow-leaved helleborine [Cephalanthera longifolia], broad-leaved helleborine [Epipactis helleborine], bird’s-nest [Neottia nidus-avis] and fly orchid [Ophrys insectifera].
I last visited Chappetts Copse two years ago. Since then, the sword-leaved helleborines and fly orchids have been fenced off by Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust, to prevent trampling of these rare and delicate plants. Sadly, one area that previously had many sword-leaved helleborines now doesn’t seem to have any at all, but perhaps they will return now that it has been fenced off.
Most of these photographs were (carefully) taken in 2022 or 2023, but it is still possible to get a photograph of the narrow-leaved helleborines if you have a long lens or can find some growing close to the fences.
Narrow-leaved helleborines growing in a woodland glade at Chappetts Copse..
