ONE Somerset resident has been championing the power of 'Green Roofs' after finding an uncommon orchid has grown on his property.

Alun Tarr from Blackdown Horticulture has green roofs on top of his home near Churchinford in Somerset, and was delighted to find a Green Winged Orchid had appeared.

Mr Tarr said green roofs increase building energy efficiency and create a natural habitat for wildlife.

"Generally, awareness of Green Roofs and the opportunity to re-instate lost habitat onto the tops of buildings is growing but occurrences such as this only re-enforce the potential for what could be achieved in our increasingly dense and built world," Mr Tarr said.

According to the Wildlife Trust the flowers on a Green Winged Orchid cluster around a single spike, and tend to be pink or purple with three lobes.

The name is derived from a hood formed by the sepals above the flower which appear lined with green veins. The leaves are narrow and pointed and do not have spots on them unlike some other common grassland orchids.