Between now and the end of August the North of England is an ideal place to study orchids.

One species which most of us will never see, thanks to stupid collectors who flout the law, is the lady’s slipper orchid.

There are locations in the Yorkshire Dales but these have to be kept secret because they are so rare. Dedicated people even guard them to keep them safe from greedy collectors.

One species which is not quite so rare is the bee orchid which grows in limestone areas.

Why bee orchid? Orchids are pollinated by insects and the flowers look like female bees and are attracted by the males which transfer the pollen grains to the stigma.

This mimicry means that some orchids are very attractive to look at.

There are also butterfly orchids which grow in swampy areas.

Although they are not insects, there is also a Spider Orchid.

If we ever get another spell of fine weather between now and August it is worthwhile going on an orchid hunt in our limestone areas.

A visit to Salthill Quarry near Clitheroe (just off the A59) would be worth looking out for fossils and bee orchids.

The best way for us to appreciate wild flowers is to take a camera, record the flower and leave them growing where they are.

Cold means slow start to spawn

In an “average year” I would be writing about frog and toad spawn during April, but 2013 has been far from average.

It has been one of the coldest springs on record and both toad and frog spawn were both being laid down as I write these notes on 12 May.

It is easy to tell the difference between the two.

Frog spawn consists of a heap of protective jelly inside which are the dark coloured eggs. In the case of toads the spawn consists of strings of eggs which the female wraps around water weeds.

The egg development then follows a similar pattern as tadpoles hatch, then they develop external gills, then internal gills and finally adults which can then venture onto the land.

They can breathe by very simple lungs but they also collect oxygen from their skin and from the roof of their very large mouth.

This is why frogs and toads are classed as amphibians and were the first group of animals to move from water onto land.

Secretive snake with a bit of bite

Recently the Lancashire Telegraph reported on one unfortunate lady who was bitten by an adder whilst walking her dog near Haslingden.

The adder, also known as viper, is Britain’s only poisonous snake but thankfully its bite is not usually lethal to humans although it is very painful and requires hospital treatment.

Adders are more common than is often thought. They usually sneak away when people or animals approach. The snake is able to pick up vibrations in the ground made by footsteps.

Following the Telegraph story I have gone through my Nature Notes from when I first wrote this column way back in 1971.

Here are my adder sightings: 1973 Waddington Fell; 1979 Foulridge; 1985 Downham; 1989 Waddington Fell and Todmorden; 1997 Spring Wood Whalley; 2001- three sightings, Wycoller, Darwen Moor; Waddington Fell; 2007 Pendle and Trawden; 2010 Waddington Fell Wycoller.

The rule with the adder is look but do not touch. The snake is very scared of you and will protect itself.

One further note is that the female adder gives birth to live young and does not lay eggs.