I was very sceptical about the likely hood of us finding this plant in flower so early in the year particularly so far north but my botanical colleague had recorded this date from previous years so we went looking for it. Even when you know the site exactly this is a difficult plant to see so well is it camouflaged against the leaf litter in which it typically grows. There was just one floret open on one plant and most were in the very young stage like the right hand side photo.

It is a saprophytic plant living off the decomposing leaf litter and often found in deep shade in calcareous beech woods.

It is fairly commonly recorded throughout southern England and is found in Wales, Scotland and Ireland too.