Beautiful English woodlands

If you go down to the woods in May..

you're sure of a big surprise....

Not teddy bears having picnics, true, but wonderful sights and scents nonetheless. The bluebells are in bloom and their scent is a gentle heady perfume that fills the air. Soon they will be gone, but their beauty will be remembered.

Bluebells and ferns in the woods

In the woods next to my workplace the bluebells are a delight and new ferns are uncurling their leaves amid the purple masses.

Bluebells in bloom

In woodland in Church Lawton there is a delightful walk through an area full of bluebells, which then continues down to a lake and further into woods with a brook running through it.  The bluebells are mainly in the Mill Lane Plantation shown on the map below.

At this time of year it is really magical.  Walking through the bluebell woods, passing the lake then continuing into Summer House Plantation, dappled sunlight picks out the wild garlic flowers down by the stream that runs through here and wildflowers are popping up everywhere.

Yellow dead nettle

Wild garlic flowers

 

Dandelion seed head

The lake, where local anglers fish, mirrors the trees around and creates beautiful reflections looking like Impressionist art.

Reflections in the lake

It is a lovely place for a gentle stroll, especially at this time of year.  It was our first visit to these woods and I'm sure we will be back...