Anglesey Orchids

Very nearly half of all the known species of orchid in the British Isles occur on Anglesey and, on top of the 27 full species, the island is interesting for the relatively large number of hybrid orchids recorded – 13. Three of the island's species are regarded as Scarce in Great Britain, namely Sword-leaved Helleborine, Dune Helleborine and Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid.

Most of Anglesey's orchid species have been known on the island since the 19th century but there have been significant additions in the last 75 years. Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) was first recorded in 1951 and has rapidly colonised, especially along the West coast of the island between Newborough and Holyhead. It has now been recorded in 67 monads on the island (1km x 1km squares) reflecting the rapid advance of this species nationally, almost certainly as a direct response to climate change.

Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides) was first noted in 1956 at Cors Bodeilio by RH Roberts and has since been found in damp, base rich habitat in 16 monads, making Anglesey a nationally important hot-spot for this nationally scarce species. In similar habitats, Marsh Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia densiflora) was first determined in 1980 and soon afterwards Chalk Fragrant Orchid (G. conopsea) recognised in 2005.

Away from the fens, at Newborough we have witnessed the arrival of two somewhat unexpected orchids, both linked to afforestation of part of the dune system. Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) was first found beneath pines in 1981 and has maintained a very small population ever since but the Lesser Twayblade (Neottia cordata) found under pines in 1986 has never been re-found.

Another Neottia, N. nidus-avis, Bird's-nest Orchid, has also experienced a very tenuous relationship with Anglesey. First seen in 2004, at a single location in woodland along the Menai Strait, it has not been re-found since 2017.

However, another recent arrival has enjoyed greater success. Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha) was first recorded on a former sports field at Plas Newydd in 2001, the site later to be nominated a Coronation Meadow. It has produced over 100 flower spikes in some years, and this species has since colonised dry grasslands in five more monads on the island, most recently along the A55 verge and at Llanddona.

Plas Newydd's Coronation Meadow was also the first site for Southern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) on the island in 2013, its arrival and subsequent spread to three more monads in southern Anglesey mimicking its wider expansion North and West in the British Isles in recent years.

Finally, most recently and most surprisingly it is of considerable interest to report a new orchid for North Wales - a single flowering shoot of Large White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium) has been found growing spontaneously beneath Black Currant and Rosemary in a raised bed in a garden in Pentraeth at the end of May 2026. This shade loving calcicole is usually associated with beechwoods in Central Southern and South East England but in recent years has been found away from this core area and in a wider variety of situations.