We were blessed with good weather last weekend and thought it would be a good time to look for bluebells. For round who are not in the UK this is a spectacular event lasting for about 2+ weeks around the beginning of May. This time we went to Upping Copse and were not disappointed.
Bluebells seem to need a critical mass of shade to thrive. We had earlier been in another deciduous wood which was sparser and where virtually no bluebells were visible but instead brambles and bracken.
Other plants that grow well in similar conditions are wild garlic and dog's mercury.
Fallen trees in varying stages of decay also made the walk interesting.
We also saw a fair number of woodland ferns unfolding and a few butterflies. We saw brimstones, small whites, peacocks (like the one above) and a large white.
It is strange to think that a week or so ago this scene would have looked mainly green and that it will revert to green again in a few weeks.
