Marsh Helleborine
Epipactis palustris
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Marsh Helleborine is one of the most beautiful orchids in Britain and the Sefton Coast holds one of its most important English populations. The pink and white flowers with a frilled lip are exquisite close-up. It grows in the damp calcareous dune slacks at Ainsdale NNR alongside Grass of Parnassus and Round-leaved Wintergreen — the botanical jewel of the slack community. Numbers vary year to year but substantial colonies can appear in good years. It's declining nationally due to loss of calcareous fen habitat.
At a Glance
| Order | Asparagales |
| Family | Orchidaceae |
| Habitat | Damp calcareous dune slack · Fen · Wet calcareous grassland |
| UK population | Declining — amber-listed; restricted to calcareous fens, dune slacks and chalk downland |
| Sefton Coast | One of the most important populations in England — Ainsdale NNR dune slacks hold nationally significant colonies |
| Conservation | UK Amber List |
Where to See It
Damp calcareous dune slacks at Ainsdale NNR. Ask wardens for current best locations.
Identification
Upright plant to 50cm. Pink and white flowers with a distinctive three-lobed lip — the lower part white with red veins. Broadly oval, pointed leaves. Grows in colonies in damp slack grassland.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Ask wardens at Ainsdale NNR for the best current locations. Walk the wet dune slacks in late July. The pink and white flowers stand out in the low vegetation.
Conservation Status
UK Amber List
This species is of moderate conservation concern. Population monitoring and habitat management on the Sefton Coast support its continued recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Marsh Helleborine important at Ainsdale NNR?
Ainsdale NNR holds one of the largest populations of Marsh Helleborine in England. The plant requires wet, calcareous conditions — rare in northwest England — which the dune slack system provides. As dune slacks have been drained or dried across England, Ainsdale's intact slack hydrology makes it nationally significant. Natural England management specifically maintains slack water levels to protect this and associated rare species.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.