Rare Orchids in the Cotswolds 18 May 2014

After searching out and trying to photograph the wild Orchids of Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds for a number of years it's always very exciting when a species I've not seen before pops up and even more so when it's as rare as the Sword Leaved Helleborine. 

This beautiful white flowered Orchid is a declining and threatened species in the U.K. so it really was a surprise when we heard that a small number were flowering near Rodborough Common .

They are growing where ancient limestone grassland meets the edge of a small woodland on a steep slope above the A46 .

Please click the photos once and then a second time to view in full quality.