Rare orchids doomed after thieves uproot dozens

DOZENS of rare British orchids have been stolen from one of the few sites where they grow – with experts warning they are unlikely to survive.

Thirty late spider orchids were taken from a patch of land near Folkestone, Kent, which is the only county in the UK where they grow due to the fact that they require specific soil.

Experts say the flowers, which usually bloom from next month, have pink and green petals, and can grow to heights of 12in, have little chance of survival once removed. Neil Evans, from the Hardy Orchid Society, said: “The theft represents a major loss to the population. They are only found in this country in a few sites in Kent. The local wardens do not want the site name published for obvious reasons.”

Jon Dunn, a natural history writer and photographer, said: “Dug up wild orchids rarely survive – they rely upon very specific soil and mycorrhizal fungal associations to grow in the wild, and robbed of those conditions they’re said to usually die. Whoever did this is pretty dim as well as selfish. What they’ve stolen is almost certainly doomed.” Stealing protected flowers is a breach of both the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act and 1968 Theft Act. It can result in a fine and up to six months in prison. In June 2016, one late spider orchid was dug up and taken away from the Folkestone Downs and another was dug up and thrown to one side. The site, managed by Eurotunnel, was home to six late spider orchids in 1990, but after grazing was reintroduced that number grew to more than 200 at the time of that theft.