Identity please

It could be a type of wild orchid, but I'm not too sure, I have seen them before as well, they are lovely.

It Is A Wild Orchid, And I Think Its Rare, Will Try And Find Out Full Botanical Name..:-)

You would need the leaf and style the leaf grows to be sure. Is it spotted?

it is possibly orchis mascula...Early Purple Orchid, And If It Is, Its Not So Rare Im Afraid, Could Also Be dactylorhiza purpurella....Northern Marsh Orchid, If It Was Damp Where You Photgraphed It...;-)

Couldn't find which leaves belonged to the stem. No spots. Don't think it's mascula - inside of flowers shows no markings, just slightly paler in the middle - do they ever look like that? Perhaps I should go back with a pair of scissors and see if I can clear round it to see the leaves clearly.

is it the pyramidal orchid. it has the squatter flower form compared to the others. either way nice to find. we have a good colony of pyramidal near here. not rare as such but less common than it should be.

That's the one Seaburngirl - thanks everybody.

Marsh Orchid....Dactylorhiza...Ive been wanting this plant for ages but cant find it anywhere...

I was going to say the moment I saw the picture ... Marsh Orchid. Beautiful. Is the ground boggy?

No, Motinot and Jonathan - Anacamptis pyramidalis - as Seaburngirl identified - pyramidal orchid.

Ah! That is why it is shaped like a pyramid.