Plants
Many rare and interesting plant species can be found at Brookwood Cemetery throughout the year.
These are managed and cared for with help and guidance from Surrey Wildlife Trust.
Bee orchids Ophrys apifera
- Found in the South Cemetery, along the ditch that runs parallel with St Barnabus Avenue.
- Flowers June to mid July but can be seen as early as April.
In the British Isles, bee orchids are nearly always self-pollinated, however in southern Europe they are pollinated by bees.
Bee orchids have a preference for chalky soils. Here at Brookwood, the soil is predominantly acidic heathland. The bee orchids flourish here because the soil acidity has been modified by hardcores from the road construction.
Bee orchids are protected by law, as are all wild flowers under Section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). As orchids are slow growing, (six years and over from seed to flowering) most bee orchids only flower once in their lifetimes, so it is important to never pick the flowers to encourage seed development and the growth of future plants.
Apart from being illegal to dig plants up, all orchids rely on a symbiotic relationship with fungal mycelium in the soil. If disturbed and the fungal network is broken, the plants will die.
