Create Your own mini bluebell Wood

● Bluebells need sun in winter, then dappled shade, and soil needs to be rich in rotted leaf-mould.

● Plant drifts of native bluebells, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, under deciduous shrubs or trees.

They will naturalise to form a dense carpet.

● They do best under native beech or hornbeam and look wonderful under ornamental cherries.

● Plant some ferns (Dryopteris) with bluebells, to give a natural feel. They will unfurl at the same time.

● Make a mini path through them.

● Never take bluebells from the wild, as they are protected by law. Many nurseries now stock them, but do check they are labelled Hyacinthoides non-scripta and where they were sourced from.

● Plant bulbs in autumn, or ‘in the green’ in spring.

● If you have a bluebell wood nearby, don’t plant Spanish bluebells in your garden as they may invade the woodland and take over the native English version.

● For more information and to learn how to protect our native woods, take a look at Plant Life’s website (The Wild Plant Conservation Charity), plantlife.org.uk.

● Add some other blue bulbs in the garden or in containers. Try Muscari armeniacum, Scilla siberica, Chionodoxa forbesii, Anemone coronaria, Ipheion uniflorum and Iris reticulata.

● Expanses of blue give the illusion of more space.