Britain in Bloom

I seem to have been missing out on the spring bird migration down on the south coast of Britain, so thought I would post some images celebrating the spring flowers that have burst into bloom over the last few weeks. I have been spending the last few days wandering through woodlands rides and woodland edge habitats, and the warm spring sunshine has certainly brought out the best in our countryside.

Curbridge National Trust Nature Reserve is one of my regular haunts, and in spring the woodland floor is a carpet of Bluebells, our proper native ones, rather than those introduced Spanish things, which seem to be taking over!!

Bluebells, Curbridge

Bluebells, Curbridge

The Bluebells at Curbridge were not at their peak, but where they were lacking, Wood Anemones made up for them. Dense patches of anemones carpeted the floor opening their flowers to the morning sun in the hope of attracting the odd bumbling bee.

Wood Anemone

Occasional Greater Stitchwort flowers were scattered along the woodland rides....

Greater Stitchwort

                                                                          .......intermixed with the odd Red Dead-nettle.

Red Dead-nettle and Great Stitchwort

But by far the most abundant colour was yellow, with Lesser Celandine flowers carpeting the banks along the woodland edges....

Lesser Celandine

.....and where spring flowers gave way to scrub, Gorse bushes were covered in their bright yellow, coconut scented flowers.

Gorse

There were a wealth of other species that I either did not photograph or were not yet in bloom, including Moschatel or Townhall Clock, so called because the flower head is cubed shaped with four of the flowers on the lateral faces....just like a townhall clock, Red Campion, Marsh Marigold and Germander Speedwell....Fantastic!