BLUEBELL woods are a fragrant place of beautiful calm at this time of year, the violet blue flowers set against the vibrant greens of fresh foliage.
But, sadly, they face a number of threats these days from their Spanish cousin, imported for centuries, which have cross-pollinated with our natives.
Also, although they are protected, our bluebells are still dug-up and sold.
But perhaps the biggest peril they face in many areas is lack of woodland management, where coppicing can be sporadic, non-existent or not carried out with care.
At Nettlestone, for instance, I have watched the degeneration of what was once a glorious little copse.
The canopy, saplings and ground ivy are taking the light from the wood anemomes and the bluebells are now a threadbare carpet shadow of the past.
Bluebells rely on light filtering through, and if the canopy is too dense they do not flourish and will be out-competed by other species.
Bluebells are especially valuable at this time of year as a valuable a magnet for bees, butterflies and other insects.
I am considering creating a small native bluebell area in the bit of wood I am coppicing next to my little orchard, and have found bulbs are widely available.
Bluebells don't flower until they are at least four years old so, at my age, if I want to stand a good chance of seeing a return on my investment, then seed is sadly not an option.
But I can gain a bit of time and save a bit of cash by buying a mix of four, three and two year old bulbs from a sustainable source — those commercially produced from licensed suppliers, so our own little piece of English wood can be enjoyed.
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