Anja Murray: Why we need to mind our wild plants

We are the first generation that has a clear understanding of just how much the world depends on nature, and we are also the last generation that can act to reverse the trend

Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), in a meadow.

Ireland has 28 different species of native wild orchids. Each species of orchid is adapted to grow in particular environments, some thrive in limestone grasslands, others prefer acidic boggy ground. Orchids are beginning to flower now, so we can admire their deep pink clusters of tiny flowers, arranged in striking architectural forms of incredible beauty.

Most orchids have a symbiotic relationship with fungal mycorrhizae in the soil. Without the fungus, orchid seeds can’t germinate. Without the orchids, these fungi don’t have a source of carbohydrates to survive on. They need each other. Such a sensitive and carefully honed relationship evolved over thousands of years, means that it can take an orchid eight years from germination to flowering. And it also means that most orchid species are highly sensitive to disturbance.