The post you are reporting:
Lorraine, very sad to hear about Alan. Trust that he recovers well.
back to the western heights though, before speaking at the planning meeting and mentioning orchids and how many different flavours are located up on the heights and in the valley, you may want to consider the following;
Orchid Flower Morphology, Taxonomy and Genetics
It is estimated that, of the approximately 250 orchid species that occur in Europe, there are
currently 52 that occur naturally in the UK (Bateman, 2004).
Common Spotted Orchid: Relatively common orchid found throughout the UK, likes chalky soil particularly. Do not pick it or damage it if you find it in your garden as it is one of the many species of orchid that is protected.
Wouldn't want a good basis for a challenge to digging them all up, if that is what is planned, undermined.
Alex, you are a member of EH yes? Could you not agitate internally to call them to account for not preserving our heritage and start the pressure for them to come up with a timetable for delivery of improvements that objections to the CGI plan will prevent from happenning?