Photo: Matt Binstead
Spring is almost here. A wonderful season of new-born animals and birds – when nature’s spark sets off another renaissance in gardens, hedgerows and woodlands throughout the countryside.
There is nothing more remarkable than the bluebell – usually first to cast its leaves long and wide to the surface. The flowers are deep violet or blue and what a joy it will be to see so much blue again in the garden. This spring will be a bumper year as the bulbs have propagated with time; just like their snowdrop bed mates, purchased from reputable garden centres.
Did you know that Britain contains more than half of the world’s population? Some common names for the bluebell are “harebell“, “auld man’s bell” and “wild hyacinth”.
I remember as a young girl, we would go as a family to gather bluebells and primroses in the woods in Bedfordshire. The flowers did not survive long. But it was a joy to see their floral display in vases.
The main threat to their survival is people picking them and illegally digging up the bulbs. That is why it is now forbidden by UK law to gather wild bulbs from woodlands and hedgerows – punishable by a fine of £5,000 per bulb and up to 6 months imprisonment! Quite right too. You live and learn!
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