Following our regular visits to Paul de Toirões, we have discovered a new species of orchid in the area, raising the total number of orchid species to 6.

This Spring, we’ve found an individual of Pink Butterfly Orchid (Anacamptis papilionacea) at this rewilding area, representing a significant botanical discovery. While this species is known to exist in Portugal, particularly in the southern and central regions, verified records in the North of the country are exceptionally scarce. Its appearance at Paul de Toirões marks a notable extension of its known distribution range in this part of the Iberian Peninsula.The Pink Butterfly Orchid is a terrestrial orchid that typically thrives in calcareous soils, dry grasslands, and open forests. Finding it here highlights the ecological value and biodiversity potential of the rewilding efforts. This discovery underscores the importance of preserving and restoring natural habitats to support rare and specialized flora.

Following the removal of the old cypress plantations, which took place over a year ago, in some areas, the clearings have given way to wet meadows where there has been a noticeable increase in the range and number of orchids, notably Serapias cordigera and Serapias lingua. In this new habitat, we have also found a new species of lupin, the Spanish Lupin (Lupinus hispanicus), which is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.

We invite nature enthusiasts and botanists to book a tour with us, to visit the area during the flowering season, to observe this and other delicate and rare species.