Bluebell woods on the Ashridge Estate

What it is

Britain holds a large share of the world's native bluebells, and old woodland is where they grow thickest. Ashridge, a National Trust estate in the Chiltern Hills north-west of London, has some of the best known displays, Dockey Wood among them. The flowers open in late April and last into May, before the tree canopy closes and shades them out. The native bluebell is a deep violet blue, droops to one side and has a sweet scent. A colony takes many years to build, and a trampled plant may not flower again for a long time.

Before you go

• Keep to the marked paths. Crushed leaves cannot feed the bulb for next year.
• Native bluebells are protected by law in Britain. Do not pick or dig them.
• A grey day or soft early light shows the colour better than strong sun.

The flowers you will see

Wood anemoneA spring wildflower of European woodlands with star-shaped white or pale blooms

Also part of it, and being written: Hyacinthoides non-scripta.

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