Searching For Bluebells

And finding them!

It's one of the great sights of England - a woodland carpeted with bluebells - but one that requires good timing to experience at its best.

Of course, woodlands are a wonderful place to be even without the little blue flowers, particularly at this time of year when the young leaves are appearing but the sunlight can still shine through to illuminate the woodland floor.

Even at the height of the season and even in woods that are famous for their bluebells they may not be present throughout the wood and you may have to walk a bit to find them. On a day like we had on Thursday when a brisk breeze was blowing the rich scent of the flowers wafted through and gave away their whereabouts.

The area that my brother and I chose to explore was just to the west of Stevenage, centred on the village of St Paul's Walden which is a surprisingly lovely bit of landscape in any season. At present, with blossom in the hedgerows and oak trees coming into leaf, it's the epitome of southern English countryside.

And then there are the drifts of bluebells smouldering sweetly between the distant trees like wisps of purple smoke.

We followed a devious route linking several woods and also passing through meadows, alongside fields and down country lanes. There were a lot of horses grazing in the pastures but they were unusually camera-shy.  

We started in Hitch Wood, then alongside Hearnsfield Wood and Foxholes Wood. From there we followed a path between Chalkley's Wood and Walk Wood before turning to follow the beautiful though short path through Reynold's Wood.

Great Tits, Blue Tits and Robins were singing everywhere and I also heard a Blackcap warbling beautifully from a dense hedgerow. Over the fields Buzzards and Red Kites drifted on the wind.

We both spent a lot of time taking photos of it all. That's my brother, Les, getting artistic. You have been spared the view of my hindquarters as I stooped for a close-up!

There are some pleasant, though difficult to photograph, views in this gently rolling country, especially across the valley of the infant River Mimram.

This brief but beautiful display appears every year but some people never see it, preferring to watch TV or spend their money in the shops. How sad is that?

Soon we were back in the vicinity of St Paul's Walden with its church appearing amongst the treetops. The Queen Mother spent her childhood there and maybe as a young girl wandered these woods and perhaps picked an occasional posy of flowers. 

Take care.