I didn’t make our usual pilgrimage to the local bluebell woods last year, so this year I decided that I had to make up for it. About 25 minutes drive from us is an oak and beech wood and at this time of year it is an absolutely wonderful sight with a lake of blue stretching into the distance. This is the sight of an old Iron Age Camp where people and animals used to live from 800 BC to 100 AD. For more of the history of Blackbury Camp please click here.
There are rather a lot of photos, so please sit back and enjoy this fabulous sight which comes just once a year.
The sun was shining, it was quite hot, no need for a coat.
The birds were singing so loudly, such a lovely sound.
And the perfume from the bluebells, when I got down on my knees, was delightful.
I wish you could smell them.
We didn’t choose the best time to go, it was Bank Holiday weekend, so there were lots of other people enjoying the bluebells too.
The Beech and oak trees are massive and are so old. An ancient woodland is a very special habitat which needs preserving for as long as possible.
Looking towards the outer ramparts where the cattle and other animals used to be kept at night.
The perfume is overwhelming!
The lime green of the beech leaves looks so beautiful with the concentrated blue of the bluebells.
It just got better and better, the further we walked.
When I see so many all at once, it makes me realise that the few I have in the garden are rather pathetic! I still like them though.
Oh dear, storm damage from one of the many storms we had over the winter.
Such a shame when a veritable old giant is brought down, it didn’t have much of a root system, so maybe it was on borrowed time. All the children were loving using it as a climbing frame, it made them all very happy.
Time to return home, I think I’ve taken enough photographs, don’t you?
A quick P.S. When turning at the crossroads into our village, I stopped to photograph these orchids that have popped up in the last week, I have never seen any there in previous years. Devon County council usually leave the lanes uncut till late summer, so they are always pretty with the wild flowers, but they always strim the road junctions so that it is safe when driving. These orchids are right on the junction, I think I will have to make a sign, asking them not to cut near the orchids, do you think they would take any notice?!
Oh surely they could avoid the orchids? Thank you for sharing your bluebell wood, we had a similarly ancient wood near where we used to live, nothing beats the sight and smell, pure magic.
You would think so Janet, but a young man with a strimmer, I don’t know! A bluebell wood is magic isn’t it, and those old trees are just magnificent.
Many thanks. Lovely!! The lanes here in south west Devon are smothered in a haze of bluebells with cow parsley breaking through. Along the roadside going out of the village tho patch of purple spotted orchids has grown. I think it is because west Devon are limiting the places where and when they are cutting the verges. One good thing from all the cutbacks!!!
Hi Helen,good to hear from someone new! Here in East Devon the lanes are pretty too, with red campiom, bluebells and cow parsley, we are lucky aren’t we!
I was horrified when I went out this morning to find the grass strimmed on the opposite corner to the orchids. This is the corner where there is a seat overlooking Exeter with Dartmoor beyond, but the orchids are still safe, thank goodness.
I’m glad you took so many pictures. What a beautiful area Pauline.
Susie, everywhere I looked there was another lovely view, it is such a beautiful, special place.
Glorious! This brings back memories of a bluebell wood we visited when I was a child… hardly anyone went there and we picked armfuls of them, knowing they wouldn’t last but that perfume is so special. You are so lucky to have that wood near you – absolutely gorgeous photos and I could feel a lump in my throat and tears welling up as I scrolled down. Thank you for sharing! 😀
I’m so glad Cathy, that it brought back happy childhood memories, I didn’t mean to make you feel homesick though! It is a beautiful place to visit, I must make sure that I don’t miss out next year.
The bluebells are an amazing site. I wish I was there to smell them! So many flowers must produce quite the fragrance. I hope the Council pays attention to your signs and good for you Pauline to make an effort to preserve these wild orchids!
When there are so many flowers together Jennifer, the perfume is so wonderful. I hope the council take notice of the orchids, I have never seen them there before, so I hope they will be allowed to set seed.
What a beautiful bluebell wood Pauline. Did you know that half of the world’s bluebell woods are in Britain? We are so lucky. We went walking in a bluebell wood on Sunday too but the bluebells were mostly over which was a disappointment.
Do you have protected roadside verges in your county? They are called Roadside Nature Reserves and they protect rare plants. Maybe you should notify your council about your Early Purple Orchids.
We are lucky Chloris to have so many bluebell woods, I knew we had a high proportion in Europe but wasn’t aware that we had half of the bluebell woods in the world.. I haven’t heard about Roadside Nature Reserves, but will certainly look into it, thanks for the information.
Surely the council could just find a lazy groundsman to work the area you want to protect – I’ll bet it won’t be difficult. We (our resident’s association) planted umpteen hundreds of donated tulip bulbs on a plot of land in our village a few years ago – we got written confirmation that they would leave the area untouched until summer. That was not the case – we no longer have any tulips!
Good luck in getting them to do this Pauline.
For one thing I was not left feeling blue looking at your pictures – they are beautiful!
I like the idea Angie of a lazy council worker! We have what is called a lengthsman, who comes round all the villages periodically, cleaning out ditches and cutting verges, usually he’s very good. I was so sorry to hear the fate of your tulips, what sort of mentality do people have that can cut down beautiful flowers! Glad you liked the bluebells!
Glad to hear the orchids escaped their first run in with the strimmer, my fingers are crossed! The bluebell wood is magic. I’m not aware of anything similar around here in the northeastern US, most wildflower spectacles have not survived the plague of deer that ravage the woodlands. The bluebells really do look like a fairy blanket of blue that’s been laid down below the trees! Your wood lots also look much more welcoming and open than our thickets! Do you know of the area is maintained or does it just remain open like that on its own?
Thanks for the pictures, it was not even close to overload 😉
Frank
The area Frank,is managed by English Heritage, an organisation which looks after historic sites over here. Usually it is buildings that they preserve, but this was an archaeological site where they dug up bits of pottery and metal work which gave them clues as to how old the site is. When it was lived in, all those years ago, the trees wouldn’t have been there. It is on top of a hill, the people would have been able to see for miles around and out to sea, necessary to see if they were being invaded! The trees look about 300 years old and I suppose over time the bluebells have just made themselves at home, but we usually find bluebells growing with beech trees in the countryside.
That is truly magical. It brings back so many childhood memories. I’m ashamed to say that we all used to pick armfuls every year …
I think we all picked them back in the “old days” Jane, but it doesn’t seem to have done them any harm. They take me back to my childhood too, when there were so many more wild flowers for us to enjoy.
I always thought no-one could replicate that beautiful sight on camera but I was so wrong. Thank you for these amazing pics.
Thank you Debbie, looking back to photos from the last time I went, the colour seems deeper this time, such a beautiful blue,
Gorgeous! It reminds me a bit of our Texas bluebonnets. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
Thanks Natalie, I’ll have to look up Texas Bluebonnets, its not a name that I’m familiar with.
Bluebell woods, ah! wonderful. I usually try to get back to the UK to enjoy the sight each year. I was lucky this year, they were looking wonderful in the wood near my MIL, there were also orchids on a piece of grazing ground nearby too; they keep the horses off until the orchids have set seed, they were only just beginning this year but still worth stopping the car to get out and enjoy. Thank you for all the photographs, you can’t have too many bluebells!
also makes to realise that most things look better in large numbers, something I try to remember when planting the garden.
I so agree with your last comment Christina, whereas 20 years ago I wanted one of everything, I now try to have drifts of plants that do well for me.
We are so lucky in this country that we have so many bluebell woods that are enjoyed by the public, so many children were enjoying all the flowers while we were there, hopefully that will last for ever in their minds.
The orchids at the cross roads are by a livery stable, I hadn’t thought that one of the horses while out being exercised, might make a quick grab for some grass and get the orchids with it!
Memo to self – investigate nearest ancient woodland with bluebells…. Pauline – I have walked in woodlands with bluebells before but never seen anything remotely like this before. It was absolutely astounding and I am very grateful that you did take so many photos and graphically shared your experience with us. Interesting fact from Chloris too..
I think Cathy, the history of the place might have something to do with the atmosphere that was there, ancient sites have something about them that can’t really be described, it needs to be felt. I’m so glad that English Nature has allowed the trees and bluebells to multiply whilst maintaining the ramparts of the original sight.
Stunning photos. The bluebells are back on track for blooming in May after the last two years where they’ve been much earlier. They look spectacular. We’ve got some woods near us too in the Wye Valley which are looking at their best at the moment. Wellyman has posted up some images on his blog pianolearner@wordpress.com. We got up at 4am to hear the dawn chorus and then take photos. It was a lovely experience, although I was exhausted by the evening. 😉
I have heard of a council, I think in Hampshire, which has strimmed a section noted for it’s rare orchids even though it knows it shouldn’t. And they have done this for about 3 years in a row. It’s so frustrating. I would put up a sign but the people who work in the parks section now generally seem to have little appreciation for plants. It’s seems to be less about horticulture and more about controlling plants. Hope the orchids survive. Have a lovely weekend.
Having missed the bluebells last year WW, I didn’t want to miss them again this year, so went as soon as the bluebells in the garden started flowering. Seeing yours with the dawn chorus must have been amazing and your photos very atmospheric. I couldn’t get the link to Wellyman’s photos unfortunately, I keep getting his e.mail address.
I was speaking today to someone on our Parish Council and have learned that posts with red tops will be put by wild flowers to protect them from strimming, that is good to know, hope it happens soon!
I have yet to discover any wonderful sights like this near me, Pauline, so I’ve doubly appreciated all your fantastic photos! What a fabulous walk you had – and nice to see that the bluebells seem to be native as well. Reading through comments, it’s great to learn that your parish council are trying to protect the orchids. I’ve been enjoying the sight of dandelions and daisies in the long grass in the gardens here and I thought it would be rather fun if the estate maintenance gardeners would mow just a strip and leave the rest, like a wildflower meadow!
I can honestly say Caro that I didn’t see a single Spanish Bluebell! Glad you enjoyed our walk.
I found out this morning that red topped posts will be put either side of the orchids to warn anyone with a strimmer that there are precious wild flowers about, I hope it works.
Do you think you will ever get your wildflower meadow, a mown strip would make it look official!
Breathtaking photos, Pauline. And I’m afraid the likelihood of a young guy with a strimmer even knowing an orchid is well, unlikely. I have stopped strimming the driveway at the Priory – and this year there are three early purple orchids. My main worry is that someone might pick them. D
Glad you enjoyed the bluebells David.
I’m hoping that posts with red tops provided by the council will protect them, but of course they wouldn’t stop an unscrupulous person from picking them, let’s hope yours and mine survive human predators!
Divine photos, it’s a shame you didn’t manage to snap any fairies. They must have been there, but maybe hiding. I think I definitely prefer these flowers in the wild.
Maybe I did Catmint, it’s just that we can’t see them! Seeing them like this makes the ones in gardens fade into insignificance, the more there are, the better they look.
What beautiful bluebells – I used to live very close to a bluebell wood and took my children there every year but since moving I have not seen such a lot of bluebells. I enjoy the few I have in my garden but there is nothing like a bluebell wood!
Bluebell woods Julie, at this time of year are very special places. There were lots of children enjoying the flowers when we were there, just like you did when your children were younger, hopefully the memory will stay with them. They few I have in the garden are increasing, thank goodness, I wonder how long the bluebells at Blackbury Camp took to make such a wonderful sight!
Oh Pauline, what a treat!!! I don’t thinks there are many things as beautiful and touching as a bluebell wood. You’ve taken some very beautiful images – thank you so much for taking me along. I’ll be in the UK next week and hope to catch a glimpse of them too.
I really hope Annette, that the bluebells are still flowering next week for you! I’m so glad you enjoyed your walk round the wood with us, it is such a lovely place, I love it more and more each time we go.
You have taken some lovely photos of these beautiful flowers. A bluebell wood at this time of year is one of my favourite places to be – the sight and scent is fabulous. I hope the orchids can be protected; at least Devon CC generally have a positive policy towards verge cutting – so there is hope for them. The history of Blackbury camp is fascinating, too.
Thank you Wendy, the photos almost took themselves, everywhere I looked was so inspiring! I have heard that the orchids will be protected, red topped markers will be placed either side of the flowers and anyone coming with a strimmer should know what they mean. I will keep checking!
I found it mind boggling that there was a settlement at Blackbury Camp nearly 3,000 years ago and still the ramparts can be seen that enclosed the settlement to make it safe, we certainly do leave a footprint after we have passed on. I like the way it has been left to nature to soften the footprint and make it such a beautiful place today.
We had the pleasure of walking through a bluebell forest in Yorkshire some years ago, it truly is fantastic. A lot more impressive than my small patch here in the garden, I still like it though. Wonderful pictures Pauline, I can almost feel the sun on my back. Orchids, I don’t know. Here they have cut mown our wonderful wildflower verges – before they even had time to flower!!
I’m so glad Helle, that you have experienced a bluebell wood, they are such magical places. Mine in the garden are a bit sparse in comparison! How sad that your wild flower verges are cut back before they even flower, at least there is a good point here to government cutbacks!
How many times can I say “Wow!”? Put down one for each picture. I don’t know of anything comperable around here. Thanks for transporting me to a truly wondrous land. The combination of the great old trees and the river of bluebells is magic!
Thanks Deb, I’m so glad you enjoyed your wander with me! It is such a wonderful place and so very pretty, I think a lot of people here take bluebells, Hyacinthoides non scripta, for granted and they can be a bit aggressive in a garden situation where they are a bit of a thug, but in a place like this, they are perfect!
What a sight! The new, yellow-green foliage makes a dramatic backdrop for the blue carpet.
I agree Marian, the leaves of the beech trees are a perfect foil for the bluebells. A wonderful sight that lasts for just one month!
Thanks for taking us along on this gorgeous bluebell walk! The fragrant sea of blue is a beautiful sight!
It is a lovely place Peter, not only all the bluebells, but the history of the place goes back such a long way. The perfume and the birdsong make it extra special!
There is nothing like seeing a plant like this in the wild. A friend from England send me some bulbs of white and blue bracteate bluebells. The flowers have long curly green bracts between them, quite a sight. I also planted the regular English bluebells last fall but they haven’t bloomed yet, maybe too shady.
How fascinating Carolyn to hear about your bluebell, will we see photo on your blog? I don’t think shade bothers the English bluebells, the ones I have here are in quite shady spots, maybe they just need a bit longer to settle down before flowering, gardening has taught me patience!