White Helleborines found near Bishops Stortford

A new colony of White helleborines, Cephalanthera damasonium, was found on 22 May by Graeme Smith in an old hedgerow at Thorley near Bishops Stortford. The lovely photographs are by Peter Herring. Our thanks to members of Stort Valley Wild for the information.

Hertfordshire Flora Recorder, Trevor James commented
‘This is a new site and it is interesting that White Helleborines have increased since the last county distribution maps were published in 1960's, unlike many other species. White Helleborines tend to come and go depending on the weather in the previous winter. 2009 has been a good year; there were about 200 at a site near Lilley where normally there are only a few.’

More information on the progress with publication of the new HNHS book Flora of Hertfordshire.