Urban wildlife
In a spring wood d
How to observe wildflowers in a spring woodland
A walk in almost any landscape with trees at this time of year will enable the keen-eyed observer to spot a range of wild flowers, but it is in those locations with continuous tree cover for at least the last 400 years where floral diversity will be at its highest. Many of the spring flowers that inhabit these ancient woodlands are termed ancient woodland indicators, as they need the precise conditions offered by stable and continuous wooded cover to thrive. Additionally, with this suite of flowers being slow to colonise new habitats, they are less likely to be found in a forest that has been recently planted. Bluebells are an obvious example of an indicator species (flowering mid-April to May) but there are many other floral beauties to look out.
Your local Wildlife Trust, the National Trust, the Forestry Commission, Plantlife and the Woodland Trust all have plenty of information online to help you find an ancient woodland close to you that is happy to receive visitors. So with a quick bit of research you should be able to find a reserve that will provide both the best possible display and an opportunity to track down a few of those all-important indicator species.
It is crucial to also bear in mind that geology and geography play key roles in dictating where many plants can be found. Lily-of-the-valley and butcher’s broom, for example, will only ever be found in woodlands growing atop chalk or limestone, and don’t expect to track down twinflower anywhere other than underneath Scotland’s Caledonian pines.
A basic flower identification guide should be your essential companionn on any botanical expedition to help reveal the identity of an unrecognised bloom and give you a strong indication of what you can expect to find and where you can expect to find it.
ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS
Many woodland spring flowers are also ephemeral by nature, making the timing of your visit everything. For example, the spectacle of a bank full of ramsons is as fleeting as it is dramatic, but if you arrive just a few days late it will look like someone has dragged the display through a hedge backwards. Finally, many of the flowers occupy a very lowly position on the woodland floor, so the best way to appreciate them is down on your hands and knees. If this takes a bit of effort and means becoming a touch grubby, it’s worth it!