Download Heartwood bluebells

Now you see them,
now you don’t
Help us to keep the
magic alive
Evidence of bluebell trampling can often be seen
along path edges. Plants that grow here can be
accidentally stepped on and their growth is often
stunted. Some don’t flower at all!
Help us keep the magic alive. Get out there and
enjoy everything that bluebells have to offer, but
please watch where you put your feet. Stick to
the way marked paths and don’t create new ones.
See below. The damage caused by trampling along path edges.
You’ll find bluebells flowering between mid-April
and late May. This early flowering makes the
most of the sunlight that reaches the woodland
floor before the full woodland canopy casts
its shade.
We need your help!
Please pledge to help us protect
Heartwood Forest’s precious bluebells.
By joining together we can ensure that
this amazing springtime display appears
year after year.
Fill in your details and give to a Woodland Trust
helper on the 12 or 24 of April and receive a limited
edition car sticker and bluebell mug to show
your support.
During autumn, bluebell plants aren’t visible
and only appear as small shoots above ground
around late January. But under the soil, their
bulbs store food reserves made during the
previous year. In this dormant phase, bulbs
also determine the number of leaves that
will be produced the following spring.
Thank you
Bulbs underground can also suffer when the
soil becomes compacted from the weight of
foot fall above.
Please include a note telling us why bluebells
are important to you.
Louise Neicho – Site Manager
Your views matter
Signed
Print name
Email
Address
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CountryPostcode
Note
After
We’d like to keep you informed about our other work to protect
and restore the UK’s native woodland heritage.
I do want to receive this information by email. I don’t want to receive this information by post.
The Woodland Trust, Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL.
The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales no. 294344 and
in Scotland no. SC038885. A non-profit making company limited by guarantee.
Registered in England no. 1982873. The Woodland Trust logo is a registered trademark.
7427 01/16
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Discover a magic carpet
Watch your step
Every spring the woodland floor in the ancient
woodlands at Heartwood is transformed into
a vibrant mass of fragrant, nodding bluebells.
This spectacular carpet stretching into the
distance under the unfurling springtime canopy
captures the very essence of British woodland.
Your boots could be doing more damage than you
realise. Bluebells have soft, succulent leaves that
are particularly sensitive to trampling.
Once leaves are damaged they die back and
are unable to photosynthesise. This means
they can’t put food back into their bulbs
which reduces their ability to produce flowers
and seeds. Protect the bluebells by keeping
to the waymarked paths.
THE MAGICAL
WOOD
ALL
ABILITY
ROUTE
D2
D1
LANGLEY
WOOD
D3
Bluebell
fast facts
• One fifth of the world’s
population of bluebells grow
here in the UK.
Bluebell
Common name:
bluebell; English bluebell;
British bluebell; wild hyacinth,
wood bell, fairy flower, bell bottle
Scientific name:
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Family:
Asparagaceae
• Bluebells are important early
flowers for bees, hoverflies and
butterflies which feed on
the nectar.
• All plant parts contain
glycosides and are poisonous.
The sap can cause contact
dermatitis.
Langley Wood
OFFICIAL
PLAY AREA
in Heartwood Forest
Bluebell
trampling facts
• Bluebell plants are unable to
produce any seeds at all after
200 trampling incidents.
• Sites take many years to
regenerate after trampling.
• Large bluebell colonies take a
long time to establish – they are
ancient woodland slow dispersers
and take around 5-7 years to
flower from seed.
Damage in Langley Wood
Entrance
Over half a hectare (1.2acres) of bluebells have been
damaged due to visitors wandering off the paths.
This is almost the size of Wembley footpath pitch!
Help protect further damage and allow these damaged
areas to recover by sticking to the waymarked path.
D1/D2/D3 Damaged areas
Main routes (which help to protect the bluebells)
Extra paths that have been created (do not use)
Bridleway
Footpath
Newly planted trees