It’s that time of year when it’s almost impossible to walk past a wood without stopping to admire a striking display of luminous lime beech leaves and violet bluebells. It’s no surprise that the flower is currently number one in The Nations’ Favourite Wild Flower Vote being run by wild plant conservation charity Plantlife (have you voted for your favourite bloom yet?). So, this week, I decided that, instead of driving past an intriguing woodland path for the umpteenth time, I would stop off and see what delights it led to. And I wasn’t disappointed. Deep in the heart of Erlestoke Woods (just around the corner from the church in Erlestoke) are seemingly endless banks of bluebells in violet, white and posy pink. A satisfying loop of the woods can be completed in just over half an hour – see if you can find both the walled garden and secret garden hidden within. My top tip for visiting this, and any other bluebell wood, don’t be put off by the rain; the scent of the flower is even more delicious following a shower.
