At this time of year, the woods on the North side of Ilkley such as Middleton, Coppy and Stubham are covered in carpets of bluebells, making for great walks.
The bluebells enjoy the dappled spring sun before the heavy leaf covering from the many trees appears.
The National Trust claims it is, “One of the most important organisations in the UK for bluebell conservation. A quarter of the Trust’s woodland is ancient or semi-natural; the ideal habitats for bluebells.” And it offers 6 facts you may or may not know about bluebells:
- The bluebell has many names: English bluebell, wild hyacinth, wood bell, bell bottle, Cuckoo’s Boots, Wood Hyacinth, Lady’s Nightcap and Witches’ Thimbles, Hyacinthoides non-scripta
- It is against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy bluebells
- If you plant bluebells, you should make sure it’s the English bluebell, not the Spanish version. This is a more vigorous plant and could out-compete our delicate native flower
- Almost half the world’s bluebells are found in the UK, they’re relatively rare in the rest of the world
If you go down to the woods today, remember that there are also countless folklore tales surrounding bluebells, many of which involve dark fairy magic. Bluebell woods are believed to be intricately woven with fairy enchantments, used by these mischievous beings to trap humans. It is also said that if you hear a bluebell ring, you will be visited by a bad fairy, and will die not long after. If you are to pick a bluebell, many believe you will be led astray by fairies, wandering lost forevermore [From the Woodland Trust].
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