39. Meadow flowers 1 - orchids and yellow rattle

Early purple orchids and ox-eye daisies in Little Meadow

My idea of bliss is sitting in Little Meadow among the flowers soaking up the sunshine, the colours, the movement of the stems. Watching the butterflies and dragonflies. Seeing biodiversity in action. Allowing myself to feel a little proud that we created this meadow from a grassy field.

Yellow rattle in flower

It is not easy re-establishing wildflower meadow, but Little Meadow is doing really well. We scraped off some of the topsoil and sowed a native seed mix in 2003, and each year it changes and develops. The orchids arrived by themselves and I am delighted to see them spreading happily, looking at home.

This modest meadow flower, the yellow rattle, is the secret of success. It is a 'hemi-parasite' whose roots suck nutrients from the grasses, keeping them under control so the flowers can flourish. It is yellow rattle, along with the absence of fertiliser, that keeps the meadow multi-coloured and beautiful.

In late summer each year we collect yellow rattle seeds - yes, the seed-pods actually rattle - and spread them in the other wildflower areas to keep them healthy too. Yellow rattle is one of the meadow's little miracles.