June Day 8: White Helleborine

In the relatively new stands of Beech in Friston Forest I found several White Helleborine, Cephalanthera damasonium, a species of orchid. This species can colonise new Beech woodland quite quickly, but does not compete well with other species, so favours areas where the canopy is more complete. Consequently it disappears from woods which are managed by selective removal of trees.