May bluebells in an English wood...

We had heard about a beautiful area of wild bluebells growing in the woods only two or three miles from the cottage so after some research and a hand drawn map we found them today with picnic lunch in hand. 55 degrees and sunshine made for a lovely ramble in English woods and a delightful discovery when we found the bluebells. We drove down a one-lane 'road' before locating the bridle path that we thought led to the bluebells. This was taken as we walked along that path beside another field of mustard. You can see we've FINALLY got a bit of sun again today; only the third time in the nearly two weeks we've been here!

Making our way off the path and into the woods where we hope to find the bluebells.

Success!!  There was an area of perhaps 10 acres of woods absolutely COVERED in May bluebells.

Here's where we stopped for our picnic; English ham and Glouchester cheese on locally made Cotswold bread with butter and mayonaise, an orange, a couple of English ginger cookies, a small bag of salt and malt vinegar 'crisps' (potato chips) and a can of dark English beer to share.

Jane enjoying her sandwich.

Jane looking at a nearby bird- of course!

There were large badger setts (holes) EVERYWHERE in the woods. English badgers are different than American badgers and such a part of English children's literature of course. Interestingly, every sett we saw (and we saw perhaps 15 or 20) had been dug beneath an overhanging branch, limb or root as you see here. It's just the way badgers prefer it I guess. Jane says she read they 'play' on the branch above, wearing it smooth and swinging from it. Who knew!?

There were enormous rhododendrons growing all about- many of them 8 to 10 feet tall. They're just beginning to bloom I believe, as seen below. There were also huge holly bushes 6 to 8 feet tall.

As we began to make our way out of the woods and back toward the bridle path I caught Jane against the sky and mustard fields.

We didn't know quite what this was, but there was lots of of it blooming along the way.

Here's the bridle path that we followed for 1/3 of a mile or so in searching for the bluebells.

Mustard as far as the eye could see-- Brilliant in the mid-day English sun! Lovely!

And a bunch of daisies growing near where we parked the car.

Here's the one-lane road that's 3/4 of a mile long. If you meet someone along these single lane roads one of you has to back up until you find a wide spot or some place to pull over and let the other one go by. You can see the two 'tracks' where passing tires have dried the roadway- and you can see it's EXACTLY one car wide! I've pulled 90% off the road and into a wide spot that you can't see.