In the valley of orchids

For more than 50 years, John and Annette Bovington have lived in Magpie Bottom, where they have been guardians of nine types of orchids that flourish on their land,

The Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and though Mr Bovington has recently sold the land to Kent Wildlife Trust, here he recounts how they developed the site to allow these beautiful plants to flourish.

Photographed and recorded by Paul Glendell.