Home / Environment / Orchids' New Home: A Delicate Rescue Operation
Orchids' New Home: A Delicate Rescue Operation
29 Jul
Summary
- Nearly 200 dormant orchids are being relocated.
- The orchids are moved by hand to a new nature reserve.
- This relocation ensures their survival due to habitat changes.
Around 200 dormant orchids are being carefully transplanted to a new nature reserve, the RSPB Saltholme, to ensure their long-term survival. The orchids, currently at Greenabella Marsh near the Tees estuary, must be moved due to planned habitat changes in the area.
The marsh is scheduled to be transformed into an intertidal habitat as part of an Environment Agency flood alleviation project. This significant shift necessitates the relocation of the delicate orchid population.
Senior manager at RSPB Saltholme, Chris Francis, described the operation as "remarkably delicate," with each orchid being dug up by hand. Their underground tubers will be cleaned and transported to their new homes on the same day. Seeds will also be collected and sown at the receptor sites, maximizing the chances of these native plants flourishing for future generations.
