| The Bluebell Woods |
We shall explore one of the Worcester Woods. It is Spring, at the beginning of May. The bluebells bloom from
April to may, but are usually at their best during the last two weeks of April and the first two weeks of May. We
have to be quick - the bluebells flower just as the trees start to put out their sprig leaves and they will whither
and turn to seed soon. They repeat this process every year, growing up from bulbs as which they overwinter.
Hazels (shown above and below) form the shrub layer. The hazel is a small tree, but when coppiced as they are
often here (or grazed when mere saplings) they put out several small stems to form their characteristic tangles,
with characteristic bronzen smooth brown bark with obvious horizontal lenticels and with pliable wood, broad
green leave that are soft and felty to the touch and, of course, hazelnuts which feed the many grey squirrels
here, as well as birds. However, it's too early to find hazelnuts, though the many shells strewn amongst the leaf
litter testify to the many earlier feasts of bird and squirrel. The oak (Quercus robur) is the dominant tree species
here. Occasional holly bushes add to the shrub layer and occasional ash trees, hornbeams and sycamore and
a few others are to be found. There are quite a few birch trees here, though many are dead, and perhaps they
are giving way to the dominant tree species.
April to may, but are usually at their best during the last two weeks of April and the first two weeks of May. We
have to be quick - the bluebells flower just as the trees start to put out their sprig leaves and they will whither
and turn to seed soon. They repeat this process every year, growing up from bulbs as which they overwinter.
Hazels (shown above and below) form the shrub layer. The hazel is a small tree, but when coppiced as they are
often here (or grazed when mere saplings) they put out several small stems to form their characteristic tangles,
with characteristic bronzen smooth brown bark with obvious horizontal lenticels and with pliable wood, broad
green leave that are soft and felty to the touch and, of course, hazelnuts which feed the many grey squirrels
here, as well as birds. However, it's too early to find hazelnuts, though the many shells strewn amongst the leaf
litter testify to the many earlier feasts of bird and squirrel. The oak (Quercus robur) is the dominant tree species
here. Occasional holly bushes add to the shrub layer and occasional ash trees, hornbeams and sycamore and
a few others are to be found. There are quite a few birch trees here, though many are dead, and perhaps they
are giving way to the dominant tree species.
These ancient woodlands make up Worcester woods in the Midlands, England. The bedrock type is Keuper
Marl - fin-grained red/brown sediments deposited by wind and water over 200 million years ago. This is made
up of sediments of clay particles and quartz grains cemented together by red haematite. The soil overlying
these rocks in Worcester consists largely of sediments deposited by the early River Severn. Although we are
two or three miles from the current river bank we are on its flood plain as we stand in these woods - not that it
would ever likely flood this far today, but the River Severn has changed its course over time as it meanders
and writhes like a serpent in slow motion. The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain at 220 miles
(just over 350 km) long. The head of the river is 610 m above sea level in the Cambrian Mountains at
Plynlimon in Wales. The river discharges into the Bristol Channel, which discharges into Celtic Sea and
hence into the Atlantic Ocean. Plynlimmon is the higest point in these mountains, and according to legend
three sisters, who were water spirits met here to decide the routes they would take to the ocean. One sister
chose the longest route, visiting many of the fairest places and staying class to the abodes of humanity,
forming the River Severn. The river is named after a mythical character, by the name of \Habren (Hafren) in
Welsh, Severn in English and Sabrina in Latin. This unfortunate young woman was executed by drowning in
the river. However, in other versions of the myth, Sabrina is a water spirit or goddess, perhaps one of the
three sisters.
Around the time of the last ice age, 10 000 to 20 000 years ago, the early River Severn deposited sands and
gravel here along with red clay. Quartz, sandstone and flint pebbles are abundant and easily found on the
footpaths and reveal smooth surfaces where they were worn by transport in water. This alluvial clay subsoil
overlies the Keuper Marl wich is just over one metre below the surface. Clay, loam and sand form the top soil
which has been greatly modified by biological activity and is rich in organic matter (humus) and is very fertile.
Marl - fin-grained red/brown sediments deposited by wind and water over 200 million years ago. This is made
up of sediments of clay particles and quartz grains cemented together by red haematite. The soil overlying
these rocks in Worcester consists largely of sediments deposited by the early River Severn. Although we are
two or three miles from the current river bank we are on its flood plain as we stand in these woods - not that it
would ever likely flood this far today, but the River Severn has changed its course over time as it meanders
and writhes like a serpent in slow motion. The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain at 220 miles
(just over 350 km) long. The head of the river is 610 m above sea level in the Cambrian Mountains at
Plynlimon in Wales. The river discharges into the Bristol Channel, which discharges into Celtic Sea and
hence into the Atlantic Ocean. Plynlimmon is the higest point in these mountains, and according to legend
three sisters, who were water spirits met here to decide the routes they would take to the ocean. One sister
chose the longest route, visiting many of the fairest places and staying class to the abodes of humanity,
forming the River Severn. The river is named after a mythical character, by the name of \Habren (Hafren) in
Welsh, Severn in English and Sabrina in Latin. This unfortunate young woman was executed by drowning in
the river. However, in other versions of the myth, Sabrina is a water spirit or goddess, perhaps one of the
three sisters.
Around the time of the last ice age, 10 000 to 20 000 years ago, the early River Severn deposited sands and
gravel here along with red clay. Quartz, sandstone and flint pebbles are abundant and easily found on the
footpaths and reveal smooth surfaces where they were worn by transport in water. This alluvial clay subsoil
overlies the Keuper Marl wich is just over one metre below the surface. Clay, loam and sand form the top soil
which has been greatly modified by biological activity and is rich in organic matter (humus) and is very fertile.
The bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) has a violet tinge to it, and photographs never quite capture the true
colour with certainty, sometimes turning out violet, other times blue, depending in part upon the lighting, with
bright sunlight bringing out the violet. Simply scanning in the photos also changed the hue. I suspect that
different people will see it slightly different in any case. Forming in sheets, these flowers remind some of lakes
of water. To add to the spectacle, the bluebells fill the air with a delicate and distinctive and very pleasant
fresh aroma. The bulbs do not take well to being trampled and will eventually die if trampled repeatedly, so it
best not to work across the sheets of flowers.
colour with certainty, sometimes turning out violet, other times blue, depending in part upon the lighting, with
bright sunlight bringing out the violet. Simply scanning in the photos also changed the hue. I suspect that
different people will see it slightly different in any case. Forming in sheets, these flowers remind some of lakes
of water. To add to the spectacle, the bluebells fill the air with a delicate and distinctive and very pleasant
fresh aroma. The bulbs do not take well to being trampled and will eventually die if trampled repeatedly, so it
best not to work across the sheets of flowers.
Click here to visit another bluebell wood or here to see the same wood later in the year.
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