Top places to see bluebells

Forestry England

West Woods is one of the country’s finest locations for bluebells and, with over 500 hectares to explore, you’ll find peace and quiet in this magical corner of Wiltshire.

The national arboretum offers visitors a beautiful display of bluebells, which creates a spectacular vibrant display alongside other wildflowers and diverse tree species.

Parts of this idyllic woodland in the heart of the Lake District are transformed in the spring with a sea of bluebells covering the forest floor.

National Trust

A 16th century garden famed for its sea of native bluebells in the woodland, where years of mining have left an unnatural, undulating landscape.

Bluebells at Godolphin © Andrew Butler/National Trust Images

A newly opened part of the woodland area at Sheffield Park contains swathes of undisturbed and thriving bluebells. The River Ouse runs through the bottom of the parkland.

A short spring walk through the woodland shows off the best of Calke Abbey’s bluebealls. The parkland is also home to Calke’s deer herd consisting of around eighty fallow deer and thirty red, which give birth to their calves during May and June.

National Trust for Scotland

An urban oasis close to Glasgow’s Southside suburbs, with woodland walks and beautiful plants in all seasons – don’t miss the bluebells in spring!

A garden for all seasons and a haven for wildlife. The garden is divided into a series of smaller gardens to showcase different styles, including a rose garden, rockery and walled garden. New for 2019, is the Garden of Contemplation.

Robert Adam’s cliff-top masterpiece rises above a world of, beaches, secret follies and woodland – the floors of which are covered in a sea of blue in spring.

RSPB

The headquarters of the RSPB includes woodland, heathland, formal gardens and Iron Age archaeology. There is a wide variety of wildlife to look out for alongside bluebells, including breeding hobby from late April, natterjacks will start croaking in the evenings, and green tiger beetles on the heathland areas.

A fabulous display of bluebells and other woodland flowers during spring. Other star species include red squirrel, pied flycatcher, redstart and even a rare species of bat, Leisler’s bat.

This reserve has carpets of bluebells from mid April, whilst whitethroats and nightingales sing from the undergrowth. There are nesting grey herons, little egrets and avocets.

Wildlife Trusts

The ground flora of this woodland is very rich and includes wood anemone, bluebell, wood-forget-me-not and a variety of orchids such as early-purple, bird’s-nest and greater butterfly.

In the spring there is a fantastic display of bluebells and visitors can also see common cow-wheat, yellow archangel and wood spurge. Coppicing has opened up wide areas of space where the rare heath fritillary butterfly flourishes.

An ancient coppiced woodland that boasts carpets of bluebells in spring, and there is a glade noted for its lily-of-the-valley. Other uncommon species found here include herb Paris and bird’s nest orchid.

Woodland Trust

Alongside a canopy of oack and beech, this ancient woodland site includes an Iron Age hilltop fort to incorporate a historical angle to your woodland enjoyment.

Bluebells in Coed Cefn © Woodland Trust

Clinging to the sides of a dramatic ravine, Nidd Gorge woodland has a patchwork of habitats supporting a range of wildlife. There is also an adventure trail to keep kids occupied for hours too.

On the banks of the Loch Ness, Urquhart Bay is one of the best examples of surviving ancient wet woodland in Europe. Footpaths form a figure of eight through the centre of the wood.

Suggestions from BBC Wildlife readers

1. Ashridge – suggested by Joyce Dela Paz
2. Bradbury Hill – suggested by Roger Parker
3. Darroch Wood – suggested by Kate Fleming
4. Inversnaid – suggested by John Tweedie
5. Kings Wood (Bawtry) – suggested by Sarah Blake
6. The Leasowes – suggested by Jo Isaac T
7. Malvern Hills – suggested by Emily Vern
8. Moor Copse – suggested by Mike Kirby
9. Morvern – suggested by Ernie Scales
10. Slindon Woods – suggested by Katie White
11. Sulham Woods – suggested by Michael Scott
12. Walsingham Abbey – suggested by Caro McAdam
13. Weston Prink (Coyney Woods) – suggested by Colin Osborne
14. West Woods – suggested by Stacey Woolhouse
15. Ynys-hir – suggested by Dave J Dickenson

Main image: Sunrise over bluebells in Warwickshire. © Ben Waters/Getty