PURPLE HAZE
BBC Wildlife|May 2022
Step into a rare lowland flower meadow and lose yourself among dreamy wild orchids
Mike Dilger
PURPLE HAZE

ORCHID MEADOWS

SURELY NO OTHER HABITAT HARKENS back to a bygone era more than a lowland meadow brimming with orchids. Despite providing perhaps Britain's finest pinkish-purple spectacle, the disappearance of 97 percent of all our orchid meadows since World War II is a tragic and all-too-familiar tale. In a battle that pitched flower-rich meadows against both rapidly changing farming methods and the needs of an ever-expanding population, there was only ever going to be one winner.

This story is from the May 2022 edition of BBC Wildlife.

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This story is from the May 2022 edition of BBC Wildlife.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.