Tags
early flowering bluebells, Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge, National Trust, wood anemones, Woodland Trust
Wood Anemone
Woodlands play such an important part in the history, landscape and psyche of Britain. The British government discovered this last year when it proposed to sell off forestry land to raise money in these cash strapped times. It quickly backed down when a significant number of people campaigned to save our trees. It seemed that the proposed sell off triggered a realisation that our woodlands are integral to our heritage.
Spring is one of the best times to appreciate our native, deciduous woodland. Woodland flowers make the most of the spring light that enters through the trees before leaves unfurl and the tree canopy excludes most sunlight. I’m lucky enough to live near some beautiful ancient woodland which looks at its best over the next month or so. One of my favourite walks is in the Wye Valley running along Offa’s Dyke, the old boundary between England and Wales. There is a stretch of woodland here that is very old and forms one of the most important areas for woodland conservation in Britain. English Nature credits it the same importance as the Caledonian pinewoods and the oceanic oakwoods of western Britain.
Early Flowering Bluebells
Two weekends ago we made a trip there to see the carpets of wood anemones. These are the first of the woodland flowers to cover the woodland floor, followed by wild garlic which fills the air with a pungent garlicky smell and the stunning sight of masses of bluebells. We were delighted to see the white starry flowers of the wood anemones which light up the woodland but completely surprised to see the first bluebells open since it was only the middle of March. The unseasonably mild spring had obviously encouraged them from their dormancy earlier than usual. I always think of bluebells as a May flower but maybe with our changing climate they’ll become associated more with April.
Hardcastle Crags, West Yorkshire
Not content with one spring woodland walk, whilst visiting family, we made a trip to Hardcastle Crags about a mile outside the Pennine town of Hebden Bridge, in West Yorkshire. The woodland, owned by the National Trust, is one of my favourite places in the UK. A classic woodland walk from the car-park follows the river Hebden Water up through the craggy, densely wooded valley to Gibson Mill, now a visitor centre but once a cotton mill built in 1800. Paths continue up the valley past waterfalls and finally you emerge on top of the Pennine moorland. The ‘crags’ refer to the stacks of millstone grit which you can see half way up the steeply side gorge.
Hardcastle Crags is a great place to spot wildlife with us seeing nuthatches, treecreepers, dippers, grey wagtails and mating toads. It’s also home to the northern hairy wood ant. We did see huge numbers of large ants, I can’t say I noticed them being particularly hairy, but apparently it’s their eyebrows that are hairy, one for the magnifying glass I think. They live in huge anthills which can reach 6ft high and are made from pine needles which you can see dotted through the woodland.
I love these bright green larch needles
I love this place so much because it has such a magical feel. Moss covered rocks and branches, ferns, shafts of sunlight streaming down through the newly emerging leaf canopy and glistening on the water. The only sound being the flowing water and birdsong. Wood anemones were in flower here, too and there were the very first bluebells starting to open, a little later than at home but still early for the time of year.
It’s fascinating to think such a peaceful beautiful place was the setting for one of the first cotton mills of the Industrial Revolution, with water from the river providing power for the mill. The mill used to employ 20 or so people in the 19th century, who lived in purpose built cottages next to the mill. In recent years it has become a pioneer for sustainability, as the National Trust has restored the mill complex so that it is self sufficient in power, water and waste treatment and is now the perfect place to stop for a cup of tea and a slice of tasty cake after all that walking and fresh air.
Unfurling leaves
Set in a stunning part of the UK I can heartily recommend a visit to Hardcastle Crags if you’re passing through the area or staying for a bit longer. For more information on the local area visit Hebden Bridge’s HebWeb
For more information about Hardcastle Crags visit the National Trust. The Woodland Trust has some excellent tree facts and details of woodland around the country that you can visit. So if you’re thinking of something to do this Easter and we’re not all knee deep in snow and shivering then why not give your local woodland a visit.
wellywoman 
Our anemones in the (also ancient, at least 1500 years) forest near the garden are on the brink of coming out, and I look forward to checking up on them on Monday (after an Easter outing to Aberdeen to visit my husband with my mother-in-law in tow).
To me they’re the best part of spring.
They are such simple flowers but so beautiful. Have a great weekend in Aberdeen. Wrap up warm it isn’t warm over here!!!
We have frosty nights here as well, so I’m hardened off for Aberdeen weather…
And the most beautiful flower decorations you could make would be a fistful of woodland anemones plunked in a glass of water.
Here in Ireland the bluebells are also coming into flower early…and we are fighting the Irish government on the sale of our forests. Hopefully we too will be successfull!
We also have wood anemone and bluebells flowering in our little woodland strip, encouraged out by all the warm weather we have had, just hope they can cope with the change back to frosty weather! I think woodlands are my favourite of all the habitats that there are, the flowers are all so beautiful.
Lots of anemones here too, WW but no bluebells yet – that is a bit weird. Certainly a May flower I would have said.
Our bluebells are out on our allotments and the daffs are all over its not like spring at all Im just hoping the bad weather that has been forecast doesnt kill off what has started flowering already.
What a great place you live at all those wonderful views. Have a great easter to you all, and happy gardening.
The bluebells are starting to flower in my local woods too. I’m looking forward to more blooming so that the floor is just a mass of blue.
enjoyed the pictures and description of this lovely setting.
We enjoyed seeing carpets of wood anemones near Wenlock Edge in Shropshire last April WW. Simple and understated flowers but most beautiful. Bluebells in flower here too – much too early 😦
I love wildflowers and seeing those from other countries…yours are particularly lovely especially the masses found in your beautiful woodlands….ours are showing up too early as well this year…
Lovely photos. We have a native wood anemone here that blooms early in the season, and looks very similar. Sadly though, no bluebells. Growing up in England, I used to love finding bluebells pushing up in the garden in spring, we don’t really have anything similar here. Our weather has been strangely warm too, and we seem to have all sorts of plants blooming early this spring.
Great photos. I was surprised to see bluebells too. Usually they come much later than the anemones x
What a lovely post. I love the new needles on larch too – I have a dwarf variety in a pot in my garden and it’s endlessly intriguing.
I have to make a confession: I’ve always been confused on Twitter by who you are, as Sally Nex (Constant Gardener) is called Wellylady on her blog.
Being a bear of very small brain, it’s taken me a while to work it out – but I’m glad I have!
Hi Victoria, Yes I know it is unfortunately a bit confusing. I had planned to be a Wellygirl but this had been used by someone living in Wellington, NZ, although she had posted for about 3 years!! It was only after several months that I discovered there was also a Wellylady.
Larch are one of my favourite trees but my garden isn’t big enough for one, so I’m intrigued by your dwarf Larch in a container. I would ask you for the variety but I have made a pledge to buy no more plants this year, so I don’t want to put temptation in my way!
Not sure what variety – I put the label in “a safe place”. It was from Owen Bros of Worcester, and I got it at Malvern in 2010, so it’s been in a pot since then. Owen Bros are an old-fashioned nursery and don’t do websites. Probably just as well, because if you could order online, I’d probably have 20 dwarf larixes by now. There are loads of different varieties.
Hi Victoria, Glad I’m not the only one who puts labels somewhere ‘safe’ and doesn’t know the varieties. I’m forever posting photos and not knowing what type it is. In fact I was in the garden today looking at an epimedium thinking ‘I really need to dig out that label from somewhere’!! Don’t mention Malvern. I haven’t been for a good number of years now, not since we got our first garden and it’s not far from us. I really don’t think it’s a wise move for me to go, way too much temptation. Dwarf Larches for instance.