Bluebells do battle with discarded cans

“MANY eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, a journal entry for May 16, 1834.

Today I paid a visit to a local bluebell wood to see where exactly the bluebells stand as we await their annual grand entrance onto the rural stage.

For the past 20 years I have noted the date the first bluebell appears in Llandeilo’s Castle Woods. Back in 1999 I selected a south-facing and sheltered spot, where the first few bluebells appear some seven to 10 days ahead of the surrounding woodland floor; and I fix the date just before the bud explodes into flower in order to ensure consistency with my observations.

As a rule of thumb, the first appears during the middle third of March. The earliest was February 27, 2016 (very mild winter). The latest was April 8, 2006 (cold and late spring). Last year was March 14, pretty much par for the course.

Today, as I enter the wood, a flash of blue catches my eye. No bluebells, but a squashed can of Foster’s beer. I roll my eyes and collect it. There is no escaping the rubbish idiots discard.

The bluebell buds are flirting with making an appearance, perhaps a week or so away, but weather dependent.

Along my walk home I catch sight of two discarded Carling lager cans clumsily tucked under a fallen tree trunk. On my website – www.lookyou.co.uk – I have a photo of said bonkersness, along with a journal entry and photo from the previous day and a tale of the curious incident of the three discarded perfume bottles collected along my daily walk into town.

It is safe to say that Greta and Sir David have a mammoth task.