Banks of Blue on May Holiday

Today is a public "Bank Holiday".

It is appropriate that on a "Bank" holoday, we should find Banks of Blue: blue from bluebells.

We had not been on a bluebell hunt this year, and it would normally be too late for them. However, in this year with its miserable first months, and late spring, we thought that some bluebells might have survived. We found fine displays in familiar places, and were nicely rewarded for our persistence.

This blue carpet of bluebells is in Wytham Woods, which I have shown on Blipfoto many times before. The woods are an area of ancient semi-natural woodland to the west of Oxford, UK, owned by the University of Oxford and used for environmental research. The SSSI citation states that the site has an exceptionally rich flora and fauna, with over 500 species of vascular plants and 800 species of butterflies and moths. Wytham Woods are one of the most researched areas of woodland in the world. The woods were bequeathed to Oxford University in 1942 by the ffennel family, after the death of their only daughter, Hazel. The University agreed to maintain the natural beauty of the Woods, to allow their continued use for education and research, and that the woods be enjoyed by the inhabitants of Oxford.

Maybe at the size that Blipfoto will publish my picture, we shall only see a haze of blue on the grund. Perhaps this photograph taken looking amongst the trees will give a better idea.

There are lovely woodland paths to wander along and enjoy. Wytham Woods are a splendid resource that we are lucky to be able to visit so easily on a beautiful warm and sunny spring day such as it was this day. The car park even has a field right next to it populated by a flock of Beezles.