HARDY ORCHID SOCIETY
caring for wild orchids
Welcome to the Hardy Orchid Society
We share an interest in the wild, native orchids of Britain and the rest of Europe, as well as those from similar temperate climates throughout the world. HOS is a valuable society for anyone with an interest in wild orchids and a must for orchid enthusiasts. Our activities include:
The website has useful infomation on the UK orchid flora with comprehensive photographic galleries and data pages on individual species. This resource can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.
Welcome to the Hardy Orchid Society
We share an interest in the wild, native orchids of Britain and the rest of Europe, as well as those from similar temperate climates throughout the world. HOS is a valuable society for anyone with an interest in wild orchids and a must for orchid enthusiasts. Our activities include:
The website has useful infomation on the UK orchid flora with comprehensive photographic galleries and data pages on individual species. This resource can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.
Conservation & Propagation
Many native orchid populations have been lost due to human activities. We are committed to the propagation and conservation of wild orchids. We work with Wildlife Trusts and other bodies to protect and enhance orchid populations. The Hardy Orchid Society is happy to advise on site management for the benefit of orchids in the wild.
Journal of the Hardy Orchid Society
Members receive a full colour quarterly journal with articles on a wide range of orchid topics that will interest experts and beginners.
Field Trips
Each season we organise a varied programme of visits to orchid sites around the UK.
Meetings & Competitions
We hold meetings at different locations with illustrated talks on a variety of orchid topics, orchid plant sales and both plant and photographic competitions. Our annual seed-sowing workshops are very popular with Members.
Hardy Orchid Society Online
As well as this website Members have access to a moderated Discussion Forum that provides opportunities for communication and information exchange on orchids.
HOS Conservation Grant
We support the safeguarding of wild orchid populations and the preservation of wild habitats for the benefit of present and future generations. The Hardy Orchid Society Conservation Grants aim to encourage communities to incorporate orchid conservation work into their environmental initiatives by contributing a small sum to help protect and enhance wild orchids and their habitats.
The 2024 HOSCG funding round is open now and details are available here.
For 2022 the grant went to Monkton Nature Reserve (Thanet Countryside Trust) to provide orchid protection by installing rabbit-proof enclosures combined with trialled use of various environmentally-friendly, non-lethal repellents. In addition, visitor awareness of orchids will be enhanced by the installation of an information board.
In 2023 two grants were awarded. Langdyke Countryside Trust will buy equipment to promote and encourage the spread of orchids at Swaddywell Pit Nature Reserve. Potwell Dyke Grasslands Action Group will install a new gate to secure an orchid rich sub-site and provide a new interpretation board.
The 2023 Plant Show was held during the Southern Meeting at Kidlington. Neil Hubbard won 'Best in Show' for Orchis italica in Class 9 and the plant features on the cover of the Summer 2023 JHOS. Neil also won the Banksian medal for 2023. The Chairman’s Award was won by Moira Tarrant for Ophrys lutea in Class 10 and the Grower's Award went to Peter Ward for Anacamptis morio in Class 16. The complete results and photographs of the first-placed entries are included in the Summer 2023 JHOS and will be added to the Plant Show pages of the website in due course.
HOS Meetings 2023
IMPORTANT
Due to circumstances beyond our control the venue for the Southern Autumn Meeting has been changed to Islip
Southern Autumn Meeting, Islip
Sunday 19th November 2023
Booking Form & Programme
To Contact Organiser
Use details in JHOS for Simon Tarrant
HOS Meetings 2024
Southern Spring Meeting [venue to be confirmed]
Sunday 17th March 2024
Leeds Autumn Meeting
Saturday 7th September 2024
Southern Autumn Meeting [venue to be confirmed]
Sunday 17th November 2024
Seeds and Sundries
The orchid seed list and list of orchid seed sowing sundries can be accessed from these links. Seeds and materials are only available to members of the Hardy Orchid Society. Contact details for the Seed Bank Manager, John Haggar, are in JHOS.
Website Update
Due to a server failure at our hosting company we have had to rebuild and replace the entire website on a new server. Whilst this is mostly complete some links may still need to be updated.
Lecturers
Several HOS members are able to contribute talks or lectures for interested organisations. Details are available HERE.
Informative Photographic Display
The Scientific Show has been reformatted as an 'Informative Photographic Display'. CLICK HERE for more information
Autumn 2023 JHOS Published
The Autumn 2023 issue of JHOS has the second instalment of Clare and Johan Herman's visit to the Vercors with more of Johan’s excellent photography, including the above image of Neotinea ×dietrichiana and its parents N. tridentata and N. ustulata. Dave and Jean Trudgill provide a comprehensive account of the creation and maintenance of their orchid meadow in eastern Scotland. Richard and Geraldine Hogg describe a Narrow-lipped Helleborine which was newly discovered in Bedfordshire. JHOS pages can be accessed HERE.
