Enjoy beautiful bluebells
Katie Wright checks out spots to see seasonal wonder
Aswathe of bluebells blanketing a shady woodland spot is one of the most beautiful sights to behold in spring.
Blooming in April and May, the vibrant flowers are a vital source of pollen and nectar for butterflies, hoverflies and bees – the latter can actually ‘steal’ the sugary liquid without the need to pollinate it by biting a hole in the flower.
The bell-shaped beauties are particularly delicate, however. They take at least five years to establish and colonise, and damaged bulbs cannot produce enough energy to flower and reproduce, so it’s important to take care when you’re walking through woods.
So stay on the paths, keep dogs on a short lead and take litter home with you. You should also never pick the wild flowers either – not least because, according to legend, if you do you’ll be led astray by fairies, never to be found again. Here are seven picturesque places to see bluebells blooming this spring.
Kinclaven Bluebell Wood, Perthshire
Take the Oakwood
Loop trail through
Kinclaven Bluebell Wood (woodlandtrust.org.uk) in Perthshire, to see the flowers in full bloom. If you’re lucky you might even spy a red squirrel or two.
Nidd Gorge, North Yorkshire
Comprising five woods, Nidd Gorge is a steep-sided valley near Knaresborough.
The River Nidd runs through the gorge, which has an interesting history – some Iron Age ramparts are still visible in places.
Killinthomas Woods, County Kildare
There are 10km of signposted
walking trails spread over 200 acres at beautiful Killinthomas Woods (intokildare.ie) in County Kildare, Ireland.
As well as bluebells, in spring you’ll also find pretty white wild garlic flowers blossoming on the forest floor.
Hole Park Gardens, Kent
A former Kent Garden of the Year winner, Hole Park country house (holepark.com) is surrounded by 16 acres of beautiful gardens.
You can check the handy bluebell barometer online to find the best time to see the flowers in bloom.
Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow
Surrounding the grand Powerscourt Estate country house (powerscourt.com) in County Wicklow, Ireland, there are lots of walking trails suitable for different abilities.
Head up the Derrybawn Woodland Trail past spectacular Poulanass Waterfall to where you’ll find a myriad bluebells sprouting in springtime.
Blickling Estate, Norfolk
From the formal gardens of the historic Blickling Estate (nationaltrust.org.uk) to the Great Wood surrounding the property, you’ll spoilt for bluebell-spotting opportunities.
Graig Fawr, Wales
Every spring the beech woodland of Graig Fawr, near Port Talbot in South Wales, explodes with colour as the bluebells blossom throughout the forest.