Country diary: A bumper year for orchids - the meadow is brimming with them | Kate Blincoe

Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk: On the farm, cutting the grass early has allowed wildflowers to thrive, especially the bee and pyramidal orchidsLast month, we made a choice on the farm in the midst of the spring drought. The grass was going to seed, risking the quality and amount of hay we could produce. We decided to "top" the meadows early and hope for rain rather than settling for a poor crop.So far, it's paying off. There has been rain, and the grass, stimulated by mowing, is at last swaying in the breeze. A late hay harvest now looks possible. Continue reading...