.......is an area of woodland just over the Gloucestershire border into Oxfordshire. It was once the site of an Ancient Iron Age hill-fort - a defended settlement established in 600 BC. The fort originally had two banks strategically placed above one another on the highest ground in the area. Parts of the outer defence were flattened
in the 18th Century, and there is now little evidence remaining. The area is particularly known today for its wonderful beech trees and beautiful bluebells that blanket the
woodland floor each spring. Having never visited before we were not exactly sure what to expect. But as we reached the top of the gently slope leading into the woods the sight that greeted us by far exceeded anything that we could have imagined - a stunning magical deep blue carpet of bluebells, stretching as far as the eye could see. 
This beautiful ancient woodland is filled solely with our own exquisite native Hyacinthoides non-scripta - bluebells. They appeared to be far taller and more robust than usual, and their delicate perfume, reminiscent of hyacinths, filled the air. It is unusual to see just one species holding domination throughout an entire woodland, but here, the bluebells were in charge, this was their domain.
British bluebells have:-
1. cream coloured stamens and anthers.
2. sweet scent.
3. narrow tubular bells with tips curling upwards and hang down one side of a purple nodding stem.
4. they are a deep blue occassionally white or pink.
5. long strap narrow leaves. 
Spanish bluebells have:-
1. Blue stamens and anthers
1. Blue stamens and anthers
2. Pale blue flowers often pink or white.
3. Conical open bell flowers with no scent.
4. Long broad strap leaves.
5. Flowers all around a straight stem.
Wonder of wonders...I am so glad you shared these photos of the beautiful bluebells woods. It must have been breath taking to see them, and their scent as well!
ReplyDeleteI could not believe my eyes when I first saw them.
DeleteDear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteAs my friend Krista would say "Das ist ja eine Pracht".Thank you for sharing. As always, your photos are sensational.
In der Tat waren sie großartig
DeleteOh! How Magnificent! Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and the gorgeous countryside you live in and visit! It is a treat for Anglophiles who can't get over there any more. Those bluebells with the beech trees are truly a treasured sight.
ReplyDeleteI am delighted to know that you enjoyed seeing them Daydreamer.
DeleteWow, Rosemary - what a beautiful, beautiful sight! A sea of such dark blue bells - I would give a lot to see that, and make a hopeful notice in my calendar - maybe next year? And I want to smell it - I didn't know that they have a scent.
ReplyDeleteAnd I learned something about British an Spanish bluebells, thank you - of course I prefer the dark blue scented British ones!
I do hope that you may be able to visit Badbury Hill Britta. If you have visited the wonderful water gardens at Buscot Park, then it is a few miles away from there - these bluebells are a really unforgetable sight.
DeleteWhat a great show that is! I don't think I've ever seen bluebells so totally dominant on the woodland floor.
ReplyDeleteIt was a first for me John - we could not believe that there were no buttercups, dandelions, or any other wild flowers growing in the wood - simply bluebells.
DeleteOh, those bluebells just take my breath away! So gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteMine too Debra
DeleteI have seen many spectacles of nature during my life and I think that an English woodland filled with bluebells rivals any of them.
ReplyDeleteThey were certainly a sight that will stay with me forever David.
DeleteGreat photos. That's the best and thickest carpet of bluebells I've seen as well. I used to live close to a very mature beech forest, trees well over 100 years old and the canopy overhead didn't allow any light in at all, like a natural cathedral with the same amount of bare ground space under them so I wonder if they will still persist if the trees grow taller and spread out more.
ReplyDeleteThis what the NT say about bluebells and why they grow in ancient Beech woodland - Once beech trees have come into leaf, the beech woodlands become very shady, and the woodland floor is characterised by dense carpets of fallen leaves and beechnut husks. These conditions prevent most woodland plants from growing, so only specialist shade tolerant plants can survive beneath a beech canopy. One of these specialists is the bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), which overcomes the problem of excessive shade by completing its growing and flowering season before the beech trees come into leaf in May. For the rest of the growing season, the bluebells survive as bulbs, dormant beneath the surface.
DeleteWell what a gorgeous show these bluebells put on. I'm sure we have the English ones in our garden, will take a better look in spring when they are in bloom..
ReplyDeleteYou must show a photo of your bluebells when they are out and then I will be able to tell you whether or not they are.
DeleteOne word! WOW!
ReplyDeleteLove from Titti
I uttered the same word Titti when we first saw them all.
DeleteWhat an utterly breathtaking sight!! I gasped when I saw your photos, thank you. You could not have had a more spectacular day to witness the bluebell carpet, Rosemary, and, like Britta, I'm going to mark the date for a future English bluebell holiday!
ReplyDeleteThis was the best woodland for bluebells that I have ever visited Pip - as I was slightly ahead of my husband when we entered, I turned back to him and said "you will not believe what you are about to witness."
DeleteRosemary, thank you for sharing that wonderful woodland.
ReplyDelete💙
DeleteOh how wonderful Rosemary - your first photo of the bluebell wood made me gasp with astonishment. What a special place, and your series of pictures are a delight to see. How I would love to visit the Bluebell wood. Maybe, one day... Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteMoments like this really do lift the spirits.
DeleteAwesome pictures
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Deletewe have the native British bluebells here in the ancient woodland and also wood anemone, the Spanish bluebells are pretty too but not as small and delicate or intense in colour. You have some wonderful pictures there.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble with the Spanish bluebells is that they are stronger and more dominant than our native ones and hybridise with them. If allowed to do this our native ones will be no more.
DeleteHello, Rosemary. Every year I look forward to seeing woodlands of blooming bluebells. They seem to have bloomed in such profusion than ever. I wonder if it is only in your place or in general in the UK due to the weather from winter to spring. I love beech trees with sprouting leaves, and withh blooming bluebells at their feet is perfect sight. My Spanish Bluebells, which I could recognize thanks to your explanation in the past, are almost over.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Yoko
The bluebells in general are particular good this year Yoko. However this particular ancient woodland is quite unique as the whole of the area is completely dominanted purely by bluebells. It is more usual for the there to be other wild flowers scattered amongst the bluebells e.g buttercup, primrose, Anemone etc. That is why this woodland give the inpression of having a wonderful carpet of blue.
DeleteThe bluebells are a gorgeous sight.
ReplyDeleteThey were really uplifting to see.
DeleteWhat a magnificent sight, Rosemary. My jaw dropped as I scrolled through your gorgeous photos. What joy! Here, it's just Spanish bluebells, still pretty, but not as dramatic. That ancient woodland is just stunning.
ReplyDeleteI will never forget my first glimpse of this really stunning ancient woodland floor Lorrie.
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