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Orchids & Butterflies of Kent
Tour Code: GBR185A 4-day holiday in the 'Garden of England' searching for a variety of rare orchids and butterflies.
£765
Highlights
Summary
The rich soils of Kent's North Downs support a plethora of wildflowers, making this a botanist's dream! Amongst the long list of exciting wildflowers are the superb orchids that put on a beautiful annual display: Monkey Orchid, Lady Orchid and Man Orchid are just some of the expected species we are likely to encounter, whilst the delicate Fly Orchid will pose a challenge to spot in the shaded understorey. We may even be lucky to latch onto the last few Early Spider Orchids at the end of their flowering season, whilst Late Spider Orchids may just be coming into flower. As we search the region for these spectacular wildflowers, we will also hope to encounter a number of butterflies that would recently have emerged - Duke of Burgundy will be on the wing, as will a variety of woodland and downland species. This short break in the 'Garden of England' will provide many exciting encounters with the county's flora and fauna!
- Monkey, Lady and Man Orchids along Kent's North Downs
- Fly and Bird's-nest Orchids in superb Beech woodlands
- The spectacular Duke of Burgundy butterfly
- Signs of early emerging Late Spider and Musk Orchids
- A range of other commoner orchids including White Helleborine and Greater Butterfly Orchid
- Birds could include Turtle Dove, Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher
Outline Itinerary
Dates & Prices
2026
Tour Leader: Paul Harmes
Paul has always lived in the south of England on the Downs near Brighton in East Sussex. Many of his early years were spent in exploring this area. His interest in the natural world gradually developed from about the age of eight and he began to take a special interest in plants, although reptiles and amphibians, mammals and insects are also a passion. Paul is a Fellow of the Linnean Society, an active member of the Sussex Botanical Recording Society and the Botanical Society of the British Isles, which he represents as the county recorder for East Sussex. In 2003, he took voluntary severance from the National Grid Company plc and started his own botanical and ecological survey company. Paul enjoys sharing his knowledge of the natural world with other like-minded and interested people.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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