Hull Biodiversity Action Plan

The Bee Orchid is a native plant and can be found growing in pastures, field borders, banks and copses on dry chalk or limestone soils. It often occurs on recently disturbed soils and prefers open or slightly shaded places. Bee Orchids flower between June and July. They usually have between 2 and 5 flowers that grow one above the other in a spike-like head. The Bee Orchid gets its name from the shape of the flowers. Each flower has three erect pink sepals, two small green petals and a lip, which is yellow and brown with a velvety texture. Although it looks like a Bee it does not use them as its main method of pollination; the usual way is by self-pollination. Bee Orchids grow to between 15 and 40 cm high. The light green leaves have no stalk and are oval to oblong in shape.

The Bee Orchid is a perennial and the annual cycle is distinctive. The aerial part dries off after summer, leaving only the buried tuber, which sprouts again when good weather arrives. This orchid, like many others, is mysterious in its appearance. It often appears in large numbers on disturbed sites, remains for a few years and then vanishes.

CURRENT STATUS

The Bee Orchid is probably the best known British Orchid. It is widespread and can be found in most counties of England and Wales. The Bee Orchid can be frequent and locally common in some parts of Great Britain, mainly in the South and East.

Bee Orchids are locally common in Hull and large populations occur on a number of sites around the City. The presence of such large numbers of Orchids in an urban area is unusual.

CURRENT FACTORS AFFECTING BEE ORCHIDS

Loss of habitat to development is the main factor affecting Bee Orchids in Hull. The plant occurs on a number of disused industrial sites, most of which are scheduled for development and will be lost in the future.

CURRENT ACTION

Legal Status

All wild plants are given limited protection under UK law. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) it is illegal to uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner or occupier. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) has increased the penalties for offences so that they are high enough to act as a deterrent.

Management, Research and Guidance

Over the period of 1998 to 2000 the Hull Natural History Society members undertook a project to map the distribution of plants within the Hull area. The Bee Orchid was included in this survey.

Positive action is being taken for a Bee Orchid colony on an industrial site in Hull. The plants are present in large numbers on a site that is due to be built upon. The developers have been required to move the plants to an area of the site unaffected by the development.

ACTION PLAN AIMS

To determine the current distribution of Bee Orchids within Hull.
To monitor known Bee Orchid colonies.
To translocate plants when a site is to be developed.
To provide advice on Orchid translocation.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO

Action	Target	Partner	Aim
Policy and Legislation
No policy or legislation proposed.
Habitat Management and Protection
Develop guidance for translocating Bee Orchids.	Ongoing: Determine success of translocation and refine techniques. Medium Term: Produce guidelines for future translocations.	KuHCC (Planning)	4
To translocate plants when a site is to be developed.	Short Term: Translocate Bee Orchids on development site at Sutton Fields.	KuHCC (Hull City Services)	3
Advisory
Advise developers on how to translocate the plants.	Short Term: Provide guidance to developers on how to move Orchids.	KuHCC (Planning)	4
Future Research and Monitoring
Determine the distribution of Bee Orchids in Hull.	Short Term: Determine distribution of Bee Orchids within Hull.	HNHS	1
Monitor known Bee Orchid colonies.	Ongoing: Biennial monitoring of known populations.	HNHS	2
Monitor success of Bee Orchid translocation.	Ongoing: Annual monitoring of translocation site.	KuHCC (Planning)	2
Communications and Publicity
No communications or publicity proposed.

WHAT WE CAN ALL DO

Let the Hull Biodiversity Partnership know if you see Bee Orchids in Hull.
Be aware that uncut grassland on industrial sites can be ideal situations for rare plants and are better for wildlife than closely mown lawns.

LINKS WITH OTHER ACTION PLANS

These plants only occur on disused Industrial Land in Hull and management of these sites will be important for the plant. Bee Orchids are often found growing with Yellow-wort and may require similar management.

REFERENCES

Akeroyd, J. (1999) The Encyclopaedia of Wild Flowers. Parragon, Bath.

Crackles, F.E. (1990) Flora of the East Riding of Yorkshire. Hull University Press & Humberside County Council, Hull.

Marshall, B.G. (2001) The Comparative Biodiversity and Conservation Value of Brownfield and Greenfield Development Sites. MSc Dissertation (unpublished).

Middleton, R. (2000) The Plants of Hull: A Millennium Atlas. (Retrieved January 2002 from http://www.hull.ac.uk/hullflora)

Stace, C. (1997) New Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Streeter, D. (1998) The Wild Flowers of the British Isles. Midsummer Books, London.