Our region is home to a great variety of orchids whose population declined dangerously last century. Fortunately, improved management of their ecosystems is allowing these rare beauties to return.

Their decline was due to a combination of factors; livestock grazing, land clearing and even the practice of ‘wildflower shows’ in country towns. Since picking the orchids means the plant can’t reproduce, the collecting of beautiful bunches by flower enthusiasts actually had a severe impact on local populations. We now know better, and choose instead to admire them in their natural environs.

Last year Parklands undertook species surveys in regional bush parks that have been progressively returned to a more natural state. The results were impressive, showing an increase in both spread and numbers of rare orchids. It is tremendously gratifying to see such results from what often seems a slow process.

Parklands encourage people to get out and experience our wonderful regional bush parks. Beautiful in every season, we will be running wildflower walks especially in Spring to try and spot some of these orchids.