Arrival of Zombies make visit to Fountains Abbey an absolute thriller

🧟‍♂️  🌸The unexpected arrival of hundreds of ‘Zombie’ orchids at Fountains Abbey is making visits to the National Trust property even more of a thriller 🌟.

In contrast to the terrifying un-dead characters in Michael Jackson’s famous 1983 video, the rare and beautiful flowers now seen amid the abbey ruins are adding to the attraction of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 🏰, which includes the superb Studley Royal Water Garden 💧.

In addition, this ‘Zombie’ invasion has inspired a fascinating archaeological investigation 🔍, revealing new connections between nature, history and one of the north’s most treasured landscapes.

National Trust senior communications officer Jenni Shepherd told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog:

“Over the last few weeks, visitors have been treated to an unexpected burst of colour 🌈, as hundreds of orchids have appeared amongst the ancient ruins and along the riverbanks. “Their arrival follows changes to the mowing regime first introduced in 2024 ahead of filming for Danny Boyle’s epic film 28 Years Later. Areas of the abbey precinct were left wilder and more natural 🌾 and have continued to be managed in a way that encourages wildlife and creates valuable habitat for pollinators 🐝.”

📈 Impressive numbers

The results have been remarkable. While orchids are often considered one of Britain’s most elusive wildflowers, they have appeared in impressive numbers across parts of the site where they have not previously been recorded in such abundance 🌼.

For National Trust archaeologists, the display has prompted an intriguing question: why here? 🤔

The orchids are concentrated in particular areas of the ruins rather than being spread evenly across the site. Their appearance has encouraged archaeologists to look more closely at how centuries of human activity may have impacted the ground beneath visitors’ feet 👣.

🌍 The earth moved

Historical records reveal episodes of excavation and the movement of topsoil during the sixteenth, eighteenth and mid‑nineteenth centuries. Paintings and early photographs show that ground levels around parts of the abbey — particularly in the refectory — were once significantly higher than they are today 🖼️.

These clues ask all sorts of historical questions about how and when the seeds got here 🌱.

It is possible that historic digging and landscaping altered soil conditions in ways that continue to influence plant life today. It seems much less likely that seed was blown or washed in — the refectory, for example, being such an enclosed space. They most likely derive from soils brought into the landscape in the 1850s (but have never germinated before in living memory).

For now, the orchids continue to guard their secret 🤫.

This story breaks ideally timed for the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology 🏺, this year celebrating the connections between archaeology and nature, encouraging people to explore how the landscapes around us have been shaped over time.

At Fountains Abbey, the orchids offer a striking example of how nature and heritage are intertwined. This beautiful display of wildflowers could also represent clues to centuries of change within the abbey landscape 🌿.

Mark Newman, National Trust archaeologist and author of Wonder of the North, Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, said:

“One of the joys of archaeology is that it constantly prompts us to ask new questions about the landscapes we think we already know. The appearance of these orchids has given us a new mystery to explore 🔎 and offers a wonderful reminder of how nature and history are deeply connected. “Rationally, we know that the ground within the abbey has been changed over centuries through excavation, landscaping and natural processes. Those changes may well represent part of the answer, but at the moment we can’t say with certainty exactly why the orchids have appeared in these particular places. That’s what makes the story so compelling. Even in a landscape as well studied as Fountains Abbey, there are still discoveries waiting to be made — provided that we’re inspired to keep asking new questions and finding out how the facts we already have fit together in new ways.”

Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst said:

“We are extremely fortunate to have Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden on our doorstep 🌸. “Over the years, it has proved to be a treasure chest 💎 with many fantastic finds unearthed by archaeologists that give a fascinating insight into the deep heritage of the site.”

Lilla added:

“The manicured Studley Water Gardens alongside the rugged abbey ruins are a place to visit in all seasons 🍂❄️🌷☀️ and the unexpected arrival of ‘Zombie’ orchids — that must have been buried for many decades — adds to the magic ✨ of this incredible site – the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in North Yorkshire.”