Our bluebell woods

Seeing bluebells scattered along a grassy verge or carpeting a woodland floor has to be a highlight of any spring walk. These delicate blooms can be found across Western Europe, but about half of the world’s population is right here in the UK.

Bluebells take a long time to get established, so if you come across a thick swathe of them it’s often a sign that you’re walking through an ancient woodland. Discover the best places to see them near you. Plus, rangers and gardeners at these places take great care of these special flowers – read on to discover some of their top tips for growing your own bluebells at home.

Find a bluebell wood near you

A couple walking through bluebells in the gardens at Blickling Hall, Norfolk

Bluebells in the East

The East of England has its fair share of bluebells during the spring months. Follow the winding woodland paths at Blickling Estate in Norfolk to see carpets of bluebells, and experience the vibrant colours of spring at places such as Sutton Hoo in Suffolk where bluebells come out during the milder months.

Bluebells in a wood and a green leaved tree

Bluebells in the Midlands

After the winter, bluebells are one of the key splashes of colour that help bring the woods and parkland back to life. Why not search for them at Dudmaston in Shropshire, or explore woodland trails at Longshaw in the Peak District?

Bluebells on the banking with Fountains Abbey in the distance

Bluebells in the North

From secluded valleys to ancient woodlands and even sand dunes, there are lots of places to see bluebells across the North of England. Look out for them in the woods near Roseberry Topping in North Yorkshire, or see them scattered across the dunes at Embleton Beach in Northumberland.

Visitors exploring the garden in spring at Castle Ward, County Down

Bluebells in Northern Ireland

Gardens and woodlands across Northern Ireland are coming to life with pops of colour thanks to swathes of bluebells. Explore the grounds of Castle Ward in County Down to see these beautiful flowers. Or, you can wander through the clifftop garden at Downhill House in County Londonderry to see bluebells all around.

Two women and a dog walking along a pathway lined by bluebells

Bluebells in the South East

You don’t have to travel far to find bluebells in spring. From Emmetts Garden in Kent where the hillside is swathed in blue, to the ancient woodlands of Hinton Ampner in Hampshire, these are some of the top spots for bluebells in the South East.

Bluebells in the South West

From Buckland Abbey, Devon to Kingston Lacey, Dorset, places in the South West are brimming with bluebells during the spring months. Take a wander along woodland pathways to discover the seas of blue flowers for yourself.

Close-up of bluebells at Coed-y-Bwnydd, Monmouthshire

Bluebells in Wales

The sight of bluebells is a seasonal highlight not to be missed at the wild woodlands and green gardens we care for in Wales. You can follow a woodland trail at Chirk Castle, Wrexham to see swathes of bluebells, and carpets of the blue flowers can be found at places like Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion, in the wooded Aeron valley.

A pathway through a bluebell wood — Go for a spring wander

Did you know?

Bluebells are delicate and easily damaged, especially if they’re trodden on. Damage can prevent the leaves from photosynthesizing, causing the plant to die back. Bluebells take many years to get established, so minor damage can have long-lasting impact. Help to look after the bluebells by watching where you tread, and sticking to marked pathways.

Top tips from our gardeners

Bluebell seeds can take several years to reach flowering size, so it’s better to buy bulbs. In spring you can get bluebells ‘in the green’ i.e. while they’re flowering, which many gardeners believe will have a better chance of getting established. Alternatively you can buy them as dry bulbs to plant in autumn.

You can buy bluebell plants from garden centres – just use our handy guide below to make sure you’re buying English rather than Spanish or hybrids. It’s illegal to pick or dig up wild bluebells so make sure your new plants have been cultivated by a reputable source, and that they haven’t been imported from abroad.

Bluebells are woodland plants, so they grow best in partial shade with moist but well-drained soil. Adding leaf mould, manure or compost to the soil will ensure they have plenty of nutrients. Try planting them in clumps under deciduous trees or shrubs to create a mini-woodland effect.

Plant ‘in the green’ bluebells at the same depth they were previously grown – you can often see this where the leaf stalks change from white to green. If you’re using dry bulbs place them 10cm deep and 10cm apart, with the pointed tip facing upwards. Water well after planting.

Bluebells take a while to get established, so don’t be surprised if you only get leaves next year. The plant will be putting most of its energy into producing roots rather than flowers. Leave the foliage to die back rather than cutting it off – the leaves use sunlight to make food which strengthens the plant for the following year.

English and Spanish bluebells

Hyacinthoides non-scripta bluebells are native to the UK, but they’re under threat from the non-native Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) which was introduced to Britain around the late 17th century. In the last thirty years the Spanish bluebell has escaped from gardens and begun to mix with native bluebells. It’s fairly easy to tell the difference between English and Spanish bluebells, but the hybrids can be trickier as they take characteristics from both.

How to tell the difference between English and Spanish bluebells:

Close up of native bluebells in a sea of blue

Close up of non-native Spanish bluebells

Dog walking to heel of a man through blubells

Flower and stem: native

Native bluebells are narrow with straight sides, and the petals curl back at the tips. The stem droops over at the top, with most of the flowers on one side.

Flower and stem: Spanish

Spanish bluebells are cone shaped, and their petal tips tend to be flared rather than curling. The stems are straight, with flowers all the way round.

Pollen colour

Look at the pollen inside the flower. If it’s creamy-white then the bluebell is probably a native (or a hybrid). If the pollen is green or blue, it’s not native.

Flower colour

Native bluebells are usually a deep blue-violet shade, while Spanish ones tend to be paler. Confusingly both varieties can also come in white and pink.

Scent

Native bluebells have a strong, sweet scent, which makes the woods smell amazing on a warm day. The Spanish variety has little to no scent.

Leaves

Native bluebells have relatively thin leaves, around 1-1.5cm wide. Spanish and hybrid bluebells tend to have much thicker leaves, around 3cm wide.

Give back to nature

More than ever before, nature has been our source of comfort during difficult times. But climate change is accelerating the decline of these green spaces. Nature gives us so much – donate today and help us protect these places and the wildlife that lives there.