Visiting a Bluebell Wood is one of the UK’s great seasonal highlights and the Woodland Trust has lots for you to visit for free across the North of England this spring.
When bluebells first appear can vary depending on early spring temperatures, so when you see your first bluebells you can record them on the Trust’s Big Bluebell Watch survey to help track their arrival across the country.
There is a fear that non-native Spanish bluebells are cross-breeding with our English bluebells. Learn how to tell the difference: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/bluebell-watch-recording/
An enchanting carpet of native bluebells is a great indicator of ancient woodland, which is one of our rarest and most irreplaceable habitats, covering just 2% of the country’s landmass.
It’s hugely important to look after the flora and fauna within, so the charity is asking visitors to bluebell woods to stick to marked trails and avoid trampling bluebells so they can be preserved in both the short and long term.
The walks are suitable for all ages and well behaved dogs on lead are welcome. Booking is not required.
More about bluebells:
Bluebells can be found, usually, between mid-April and late May, when the flowers can make the most of light reaching the forest floor before the full woodland canopy casts its shade.
They can provide a valuable, early source of nectar for bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other insects.
Occasionally you will spot white bluebells in amongst the violet - this is caused by a genetic mutation
Half of the world's population of bluebells are here in the UK.
Bluebells are an ancient woodland indicator – meaning that they commonly appear in areas that have been wooded since 1600AD, and reply upon the unique conditions this habitat can provide.
Trampling is not the only threat that bluebells face: Since 1998 it has been illegal for anyone to collect pick native bluebells from the wild for sale.