WITH now the time to see carpets of bluebells in our woodland, the National Trust has come up with top facts about this favourite springtime flower.
Blues depend on warm ground temperatures to help them grow so are usually found in old woodland, thick old hedges and on bracken-covered hillsides.
Half of the world’s population of bluebells can be found in the UK. These are at risk of disappearing though as a result of hybridizing with the scentless Spanish variety which were often planted in gardens.
The native British species, which will not flourish in the average garden, can be identified by its strong fragrance and intense violet-blue colour, rather than the pale blue of the Spanish plant.
The bluebell is associated with many old stories and folklore: ringing the ‘bells’ would summon fairies, wandering into a bluebell ring could put the walker under fairy enchantment leading to death, and turning a bluebell flower inside out without tearing it would result in winning the heart of a loved one.
The bluebell has lots of local names including auld man’s bell, culverkeys, ring-‘o’-bells, wood bells and wild hyacinth.
Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for places to see bluebells.