A Sea of Bluebells
May is commonly cherished as the month when the sun is warming, the birds are chirping, and the flowers are blooming. One widely adored blooming beauty around this time of year is the emergence of bluebells. Here are just a few of the Northamptonshire spots you should visit to see these beautiful flowers in bloom...
Everdon Stubbs
This ancient woodland, located just south of Daventry, is filled with a mix of English and sessile oak, lowland birch, sweet chestnut, and sycamore. Bluebells and rare daffodils provide an array of colours in the blooming springtime. The northern boundaries of the site are home to old Saxon burial grounds as well as a host of other archaeological features. There ss full public access and free parking on-site.
Coton Manor Gardens
A real favourite for flower and gardening lovers is Coton Manor Gardens, tucked inside the small village of Coton in Northamptonshire, which is just over 11 miles south of Market Harborough. These gardens were originally laid out in the 1920s by the grandparents of the current owners. They have since been developed and extended by successive generations using natural settings and views to grow them into the ever-increasingly popular tourist destination it is today.
A must for visitors is a stop at the Stableyard Café, set in the courtyard and open Tuesday through Saturday 11.30am to 5pm. Adult entry is £10, children aged five to 17 are £3.50 and entry is free for the under 5s.
Badby Woods
Badby Woods, an enchanting forest owned by the Fawsley Estate, is open to the public and is famous for its bluebells. The entrance to these woods, a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the rare species of flora, is via an old gatehouse - a marvel in its own right.
Short Wood and Southwick Wood
Short Wood and Southwick Wood, located in an area that used to form part of Rockingham Forest, contain a mix of oak, ash, field maple, hazel, and cherry. In spring, both of these woods bring a carpet of bluebells to the landscape, alongside a flower called Dog’s Mercury, to create a truly picturesque landscape.
Lamport Hall
Immerse yourself in bluebells at Lamport Hall, a magnificent stately home which features tall Dutch-style perennials adorning the two-acre walled garden. The Hall is also home to one of the largest cut-flower gardens in the country.
As well as the bluebells you can enjoy and explore woodland, shrubberies, and borders, as well as a large rockery, created in the mid-19th century and once populated by the world’s first garden gnomes. The gardens are open on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 4pm, with the last admissions at 3pm. Admission costs are £10 per adult, £5 for children aged between 11-18 and under 11’s are free. There is an onsite café and toilet facilities, however, you may bring your own picnic to have in the stable courtyard.
Did you know? For all of you bluebell lovers out there, here are five fun facts about everyone’s favourite spring flower:
- We are world famous for bluebells, with around half of all bluebells growing right here in the UK.
- Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, bluebells are protected from being dug up. So, if you’re tempted, think again – you may well get a hefty fine.
- The roots of bluebells can be used as gum and have historically been used in bookkeeping and to bind feathers to arrows.
- Bees will sometimes ‘steal’ the nectar out of a bluebell by biting a hole in the top of it.
- Several moth species and the chequered skipper butterfly also nectar on bluebells.
We’d love to hear about your own favourite bluebell spots so get in touch:
