A historical cemetery in northern New South Wales is serving as a vital habitat for a critically endangered ground orchid known as the pale yellow doubletail. This orchid, scientifically named Diuris flavescens, was first identified at the site in the mid-1990s. Since then, the local MidCoast Council has implemented measures to protect the species, which only blooms during specific seasons.

Matt Bell, the council's senior ecologist, emphasized the uniqueness of the orchid, stating, "They are remarkable little plants, and they occur nowhere else in the world, other than a tiny part of the Mid North Coast." He described the blooming process as extraordinary, noting the beauty and complexity of the flowers. Recent counts have identified several hundred individual orchids in the cemetery and surrounding areas.

To safeguard the orchids, the council has restricted the sharing of their exact locations and prohibited mowing during the spring flowering season. Bell explained, "If there's a burial, any orchid spikes are flagged, so they are protected from any trampling or inadvertent harm." He acknowledged the challenge of balancing cemetery use with orchid preservation, stating, "It's a difficult tightrope we must walk, in order to allow people to utilize the cemetery for its purpose, but also to preserve the orchids."

The orchid population appears to be stable, highlighting the role of historical cemeteries as habitats for various species affected by development. Bell remarked, "Orchids and a variety of species that have been impacted in other landscapes, through development and other factors, are preserved in cemeteries … the nature hasn't been harmed."

David Burdon, conservation director at The National Trust of Australia (NSW), noted that cemeteries are not just burial sites but also refuges for rare plant species. He pointed out that many cemeteries, including the oldest European cemetery in Australia, St John's, provide sanctuary for wildlife amid urban development.

Rookwood General Cemetery, established in 1868, also contains significant conservation areas. Rob Smart, executive director of operations at Metropolitan Memorial Parks, highlighted that Rookwood supports several rare and endangered plant species, including the downy wattle and Rookwood bluebell. He described the cemetery as a corridor of natural vegetation that supports various fauna, including small birds and reptiles.

In Canberra, the Hall Cemetery is the only site in the ACT where the endangered Tarengo leek orchid is found. Emma Cook, a vegetation ecologist at the ACT government's Office of Nature Conservation, noted that the site is carefully managed to protect its rare species. She stated, "The critically endangered yellow box, red gum, grassy woodland ecological community that covers the site has remained relatively unimpacted by the agricultural activities that have led to its widespread loss and degradation elsewhere."

This spring, sightings of the pale yellow doubletail in bloom have been limited, but Bell indicated that this variability may be due to seasonal factors. He said, "We are still working out a lot of knowledge about this cryptic and very rare plant." The ongoing conservation efforts in these cemeteries illustrate their importance in preserving biodiversity in the face of environmental challenges.