Had a look at the Mildenhall Military Orchids while I was in the vicinity. An incredibly rare plant, they were thought to be extinct until being rediscovered in 1947. They are confined to this site and two in the Chilterns. They were fresher than this time last year when they had just started to go-over. The species gets it name from the hood formed by the upper petals, which is reminiscent of an old-style soldier's helmet, atop a rather human-like flower.
The orchid apparently smells of vanilla, but the area where they grow is - rightly - cordoned off, so I didn't get close enough to verify that! A few stunted Southern Marsh Orchids and prominent Common Twayblades were among the ranks of regal Military Orchids.
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