{"id":15713,"date":"2022-04-19T10:30:25","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T08:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=12174"},"modified":"2022-04-19T11:09:18","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T09:09:18","slug":"bluebells-guide-how-to-identify-and-best-bluebell-walks-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/bluebells-guide-how-to-identify-and-best-bluebell-walks-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Bluebells guide: how to identify and best bluebell walks in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Carys Matthews\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 19 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Strongly associated with our ancient woodlands<\/a>, Britain\u2019s stunning spring<\/a> flower the bluebell has bloomed, making this time of year is a lovely time to take a woodland bluebell walk.<\/p>\n

Bluebells are also one of Britain\u2019s more easily identified wildflowers<\/a>, but can you tell the subtle difference between the native bluebell and the Spanish bluebell?<\/p>\n

One of the pleasures of bluebells is their individual beauty: graceful, arching stems bearing delicate bells of deep colour.\u00a0 But when those single splashes of blue multiply to form dreamy pools of thousands of plants, fresh pleasures await. The colour and scent intensify and there is a delicious, extravagant sense of abundance after the barren winter months.<\/p>\n

Why not enjoy a carpet of blue in woodlands, forests or your local park this bluebell season by taking inspiration from our pick of the best bluebell walks in the UK.<\/p>\n

Our expert bluebell guide also explains how to identify this delicate native flower and has handy advice on how to grow your own.<\/p>\n

When do bluebells flower?<\/h2>\n

Bluebells flower in April and May and in the UK and there are two types of bluebell which grow\u00a0wild. These include the\u00a0native bluebell, which is also known as the\u00a0English or British bluebell, (Hyacinthoides non-scripta<\/em>) and the\u00a0Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica<\/em>), which can now be found across much of Britain.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Fox cub among springtime bluebells<\/span><\/figcaption> Getty<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Spanish variety grows and faster than our native bluebell and is one of the major threats to our native species with\u00a0cross breeding between the two a potential\u00a0risk. Both varieties however attract butterflies, bees and insects which use the plants for\u00a0nectar.<\/p>\n

The UK is home to over half of the world\u2019s population of bluebells.<\/p>\n

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