Into the blue

As nature rolls out the blue carpet, Elly West considers the natural magic and the folklore of the common English bluebell...

There’s something magical about bluebells en-masse, carpeting the dappled shade of deciduous woodland and seeming to cast their own luminous glow, making it easy to understand their long association with enchantment and fairies. From mid-April and through May, woodland floors across the country are transformed into a delicate sea of blue, as one of the nation’s most loved and recognised wildflower comes into bloom.

Almost half of the world’s bluebells are estimated to grow here in the UK and they’re relatively rare elsewhere. Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, digging up the bulbs or picking the flowers of our native bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, from the countryside is illegal, and can incur fines of up to £5,000 and a six-month prison sentence.

English bluebells are under threat from their invasive Spanish cousin, Hyacinthoides hispanica, which was introduced to the UK in the late 17th century, and became a popular garden plant from Victorian times onwards, being tougher and more vigorous than the native variety. Hyacinthoides non-scripta, the English bluebell, has stems that droop or nod to one side. The flowers are a darker blue and, like the stems, hang to the side, with petals that curl back at the edges. They have a fresh, sweet fragrance, unlike the Spanish variety, and are more attractive to early foraging bees. The leaves are narrower, up to 1.5cm wide.

Spanish bluebells, on the other hand, have stiff, upright stems with flowers hanging all around them and the petals flare rather than curl back. The leaves can be up to 3cm wide. However, because of crosspollination and hybridisation, it can be difficult to tell the native and Spanish bluebells apart, as each takes on traits of the other. Pollen colour can be a giveaway, as our native bluebell has creamy-white pollen, while the hybrids or non-natives have green or blue pollen. Because of their vigour and ability to hybridise, it’s advised not to grow Spanish bluebells in rural locations, as escapees could potentially oust our natives, out-competing them for light and space, and eventually taking over.

In Victorian flower language, a bluebell symbolises constancy, humility and gratitude. The name is apt given the flowers’ colour and form, but other names in history include crowtoes, granfer griggles, cuckoo’s boots, wood hyacinth, fairy flower, bell bottle, lady’s nightcap and witches’ thimbles.

The Latin name Hyacinthoides non-scripta was given to the bluebell by Carl Linnaeus, the 18th-century Swedish botanist and socalled father of modern taxonomy. Hyacinthoides means ‘like a hyacinth’. In ancient Greek legend, Hyacinthus was a handsome and charming young man who attracted the attention of the god Apollo. One day, while teaching Hyacinthus how to throw the discus, Apollo accidentally hit Hyacinthus on the head, killing him. A hyacinth flower appeared where the blood of Hyacinthus hit the ground. Apollo’s tears fell on the flower, spelling out ‘AIAI’, meaning alas, on the petals. However, Linnaeus, when naming the bluebell, realised this must be a different plant to the one in the myth as there are no letter-like markings on its petals, so gave it the name ‘non-scripta’, meaning unlettered.

Bluebells have long featured in art and literature, inspiring poets and writers including Oscar Wilde, Emily and Anne Brontë, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, as well as William Morris fabric designs. And they are also the subject of folklore, associated with ancient woodlands and magic, both good and bad. It’s said that bluebells ring to call fairies together, but the sound is deadly to humans who will die if they hear it. It’s also said to be unlucky to trample on bluebells because you will annoy the fairies resting there (not to mention the potential prison sentence and fine of up to £5,000).

Notwithstanding the fact they are protected, it’s said that if you manage to turn a bluebell flower inside-out without tearing it, then apparently you shall win the one you love – but don’t try this with flowers growing wild. Likewise, a garland of bluebells around your neck ensures you tell the truth. Plant bluebells near your front door for good luck, because if someone unwanted comes, the flowers will ring to warn you (unlike the ones in the woods, which will might kill you if you hear them).

Other uses for bluebells have included the starch from the bulbs being used to stiffen the ruffs of Elizabethan collars, and gum from their roots was used historically to glue feathers to arrows, and in bookbinding. Although they don’t have much use in modern medicine, in the past, Tennyson wrote of bluebell juice being used to cure snake-bite, and extracts have also been used for their diuretic properties, and to stop bleeding.

Bluebells contain chemicals called glycosides and all parts are toxic. Eating any part can trigger nausea, vomiting, and a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. Some people can also get skin reactions from touching the plant, so if you are growing them at home, wear gloves. Buy them as dry bulbs in autumn or plants ‘in the green’ (after flowering, still with leaves) in late spring, and choose a reputable source. They like partial shade and well-drained soil. Try planting them under a deciduous tree for a mini-woodland effect. Leave the foliage to die back naturally after flowering, to feed the bulb for next year. n ellyswellies.co.uk

Here are some places in and around Bath where you can see carpets of bluebells this month.

Bathwick Wood

ThisNational Trust owned wood just north of the University of Bath is a haven for bluebells.

Location: Bathwick BA2 6JG; OS Map Ref: ST 7669 6521

Leigh Woods is a drive out of Bath towards Bristol, but worth visiting for the bluebells. Location: Bristol BS8 3QE; OS Map Ref: ST 5593 7275.

Vincients Wood, an easy drive towards Chippenham, is a small nature reserve with a circular trail. Location: via Brittain Close, Chippenham SN14 0UE OS Map Ref: ST 898 734

King’s Castle Wood was once an Iron Age fort and is now a nature reserve and semi-natural woodland. A mile south-east of Wells it is only accessible by foot on the B3139. Lower Woods, near Wickwar; OS Map Ref: ST 568 456

11 Fairfield Park Road is an attractive mid terrace period family home having been comprehensively refurbished throughout and offering stylish, flexible accommodation arranged over 2 floors, with the opportunity to extend both into the loft space and side return with the necessary permissions. There are wonderful elevated far reaching views across Solsbury Hill, the Charlcombe Valley and towards the Bathampton and Box Valley to the front.

On the ground floor there is an impressive open plan, double aspect bay fronted living and dining room with original exposed floor boards, a Scandinavian-style Morsø log burner and a bespoke contemporary wooden mantle with matching slate hearths across both rooms. The dining area leads through to a well-appointed Shaker style kitchen and a garden room which offers excellent storage and utility space or development potential.

The handsome master bedroom is to the front on the first floor and has plenty of built in bespoke storage. To the rear there is a further double bedroom with views over the pretty rear garden along with a large bath and shower room with a central claw foot bath.

Externally to the front there is a gated garden with a lawn, mixed evergreen hedge row, and lavender hedging bordering the pavement. To the rear, accessed from the garden room, there is a pretty paved sun terrace and a level lawn with established shrubs, box-plant hedging and a Silver Birch tree. Conveniently, there is gated access to the rear onto Raglan Lane. There is plenty of on street non-permit parking to the front and rear.

Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath; Tel: 01225 333332

Bath, BA1

•Fashionable Larkhall village on the doorstep

•On the cusp of open countryside with walks nearby and farreaching views from the property

•2 double bedrooms

•Beautiful open plan bay fronted living and dining room

•Well-appointed Shaker style kitchen

•Pretty south-west facing garden

Guide Price £500,000

Guide Price £595,000

An attractive end of terrace townhouse immaculately presented throughout and offering flexible accommodation arranged over 3 floors.

• 3 bedroom property over 3 floors

• Open plan kitchen/living/dining

• Office with underfloor heating

• Private, terraced, courtyard garden

• 2 parking spaces and a an electrically operated garage door

Guide Price £850,000

An elegant semi-detached Grade II listed 3-bedroom Georgian villa of handsome proportions retaining a wealth of period detail, located in a fine elevated position, enjoying wonderful far reaching panoramic viewings of Bath and conveniently within 15 minutes-walk of the city centre.

• 3 double bedrooms, 2 shower/bathrooms

• Elegant formal drawing room

• Dining room

• Well equipped kitchen breakfast room

• Wealth of period detail