Wolstonbury Hill - BBC Countryfile Secret Britain

Wolstonbury Hill viewed from the Orchid Bank on the east side of The Hill - an area were volunteers have cleared scrub and undergrowth manually allowing numerous species of orchid to reestablish

Wolstonbury Hill is a very special place and I have the honour of being the founding chairman of the the conservation group Friends of Wolstonbury.

Friends of Wolstonbury were formed early in 2007 as a result of a survey undertaken by the South Downs Joint Committee late in 2006. The survey was sent to everyone living in Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Keymer & Ditchling seeking to find out their "special" countryside place in the area - as a result Friends of Wolstonbury was formed.

Wolstonbury Hill is a special landscape shaped by human involvement for well over 3000 years. To keep it special we need to maintain that involvement to help the National Trust & local landowners to stop scrub invading banks where rare orchids grow and maintain footpaths so people can walk onthe hill and enjoy it safely.

Julia Bradbury, presenter BBC Countryfile with National Trust Warden Graham Welfare

During my tenure as chairman we became involved in filming an episode of Secret Britain, a short series produced by BBC TV Countryfile during June 2010 showing special places in the English countryside. Wolstonbury Hill was chosen as it's home to a diverse chalk grassland flora & fauna including fly orchid Ophrys insectifera & man orchid Orchis anthropophora.

David Lang, orchid expert & author of Britain's Orchids

David Lang an internationally recognised orchid expert and author of Britain's Orchids was involved in filming, during which he experienced something he's never seen in over 40 years - a parasitic wasp pollinating a fly orchid! This actually happened during filming which took Julia Bradbury by surprise, since David became distracted and began photographing the event.

Parasitic wasp Listrodromus nycthemerus pollinating a fly orchid

- David Lang was quite surprised when I showed him this image which I'd shot the day before filming whilst on a guided NT orchid walk!

The main aim of the programme for to seek and film the elusive man orchid, the locations of which are known to very few in view of its' scarcity and the fact there are people who will dig up specimens illegally.

I'm pleased it wasn't me that had to lug the heavy broadcast camera gear up the steep slopes of Wolstonbury Hill!

The target of our quest, the man orchid. I consider myself privileged as one of a select few who know the location of this exceptionally rare plant.

Wolstonbury Hill is a very pale and well worth a visit. The access is remote so be prepared for a long walk from Pyecombe village along a rutted path which is normally slick with wet clay. The Hill may be accessed from the north by means of two routes, both are sticky clay so decent footwear and a walking stick or pole will be an asset.

Visit the Friends of Wolstonbury website for more information. Enjoy your day, you'll not regret it:)