The Orchids of Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve Holy Island.

Over the past five years Reinhild Raistrick SBA Fellow, has been involved in painting and recording the orchids on this reserve of national importance. 

There are ten known species of orchid on the island. It is remarkable that such a variety of orchids are to be found growing in such a small area. 

Reinhild was given the opportunity, with guidance from the Reserve Warden, to record each one of the ten orchids. 

Working in situ she was able to illustrate each rare plant growing in its own environment. 

The flowering time of these unique plants varies from early May through to the end of July, hence the length of time taken to complete the set.

Each year mean't another welcome stay on the very beautiful and iconic Holy Island. 

Some of the rare species include the Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum viride) and the Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida). However the most rare of them all is the endemic Lindisfarne Helleborine (Epipactis Sancta), first discovered in 1958. This orchid was not recognised as a separate species for many years, but was then given the special name 'sancta', a fitting name for one of the rarest plants in the UK.

The paintings are to be housed in the permanent archive collection fo the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Here they will join other works by Reinhild, from the Usambara Rainforest Project in Tanzania. This collection includes the whole set of wild African Violets (Saintpaulias), for which Reinhild received her first of four Gold Medals from the RHS.

A major exhibition of Reinhild's Lindisfarne Orchid paintings, alongside other current works, at:

The Guildhall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1PR

29th April - 4th May 2023.