Bluebell walk at Priors Wood

After the sakura blossom in early spring, the bluebells are the next gift from nature each year. In UK, we are lucky that half of the world's bluebells can be found here, and there are many bluebell walks around the country.

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Finding my way into the woods

Yesterday I set off on a 3km bluebell walk but ended up walking over 12km because we parked at a different spot, and couldn't find our way in and out of the woods. Bluebells are found in woods, where they grow best in shades. The woods I wanted to go is surrounded by private farmland, some give the public right of way, and some don't. We had to find a way in without trespassing on private land. Some cows were grazing in the first piece of land we entered. I was quite worried as we had to walk right next to them, I even took off my bright red wind breaker.... just in case!!! It was only after we got to the edge of the field did I dare to take a photo of them. I'd love to have done a close shot.

A farmer was prepping his land in the next field. Then we finally saw a sign for public footpath.

This was the first sign of the carpet of bluebell. It's always mesmerising to see them each year. But we weren't in the woods yet and still had to find a way in. I think we must have walked for 3 or 4 km on the periphery of the woods, but it wasn't too bad, as the countryside was amazing and it was a beautiful day.

Priors Wood Nature Reserve

After walking for over two hours, we finally found the entrance. This little path leads into the Prior's Wood Nature Reserve and the bluebells. At last!!!

Someone from Avon Wildlife Trust who manages the area was there promoting their work. This is the first time I've seen them or similar organisation do outreach work like this. It's important that walkers appreciate and value nature when we are out and about. Later on during my walk, I saw some people had walked onto the bluebells damaging them, probably all because they wanted to take that IG photo. It was pretty sad to see it how people disrespect nature.

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Bluebells photo bomb

Thanks to Avon Wildlife Trust, the walk is very well maintained, and the path circles around the woods. As I ventured in, I saw more and more bluebells. Initially, it was small patches dotted here and there, then they started to thicken on both sides. There were quite a lot of fallen trees around and instead of clearing them all away, it seems the Trust had placed some strategically to blend in with the environment. Some were placed to stop people from going down the slopes, others as a natural seat for that important photo. And some, well, they're just stunning where they are.

Please enjoy the bluebells photo bomb.

Getting out of the woods

The sun started to set a little, and as it found its way through the trees, it layered a gentle shimmer of halo onto the already beautiful bluebells. I'd love to wait for the sun to set more, but it was time to find our way out of the woods and back to our car.

Getting back out was a little easier but we still had to walk across some farmlands again. This time, we managed to avoid the cows, but we might have walked through a private field. We only saw the sign at the exit. We did no harm, and the farmer who was ploughing his field on the other side didn't set his dogs on us 😅.

Here's the home stretch after our 12km walk. Thank you for a wonderful day Bluebells.