Investigation under way as rare lizard orchid mown down in Cambridge

An investigation is under way after a rare lizard orchid was mown down on a roadside verge in Cambridge.

Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways and ecology team is exploring how the protected orchid came to be cut down, along with hundreds of bee orchids.

Last year, it was allowed to bloom and delighted those who saw it.

Ben Greig, from On the Verge, told the Cambridge Independent: “Lizard orchids are truly magnificent growing to a metre tall with ornate reptile-like flowers. They are rare in this country, only found in South East England in the UK, and are classed as ‘vulnerable’ by Plantlife, protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

“Sadly, the verge containing both this and hundreds of bee orchids has very recently been mown short thus destroying any chance the lizard orchid will flower this year. We can only hope it has not been killed off entirely.”

The verge has in the past been maintained for the county council by Marshall because of its proximity to Cambridge Airport, but it is no longer responsible for it. It is not yet clear who carried out the mowing.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We’re sad to hear the lizard orchid has been mown on Newmarket Road. Our highways and ecology team are treating this incident seriously and investigating to find out what happened and by who. The lizard orchid is listed on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so has the highest level of protection making it illegal to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy them.”

Mr Grieg said the lizard orchid was also mown down in 2023 and called for the verge to be given protection.

“We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis and a new age of extinction. Cambridgeshire itself is an exceptionally nature-depleted county. We ask that what nature we still have is truly valued, protected and nurtured and not casually destroyed,” he said.