4 Best Bluebell Spots at the Essex Country Parks

At Belhus Woods Country Park, the best place to spot bluebells is near the cafe.

Take the main route from the centre, towards the kids play area, and then explore further into Running Water Wood or Whitehall Wood by joining the paths through the trees, on either side. Running Water Wood South is also excellent for violets and other flowers, so definitely worth a visit.

Plan your visit to Belhus Woods Country Park here.

Tom Heenan, Belhus Woods Country Park Ranger, has shared his favourite spots to see bluebells as well as some interesting facts about these spring flowers. Watch the video here.

At Danbury Country Park, start at the Lakes car park.

Take the path down towards the icehouse, meander through the woodland paths in this hidden corner of the park and head back up towards the fishing lake for the best bluebells spots.

Plan your visit to Danbury Country Park.

For a decent ramble, park at Thorndon North and walk along the bridleway through the forest to Childerditch Wood – the best spot for Bluebells at Thorndon – loop back through the Forest or head to Childerditch pond and back up for a longer circuit.

Plan your visit to Thorndon Country Park.

Park at Belvedere (just before the main car park/cafe turning) and head up the hill (with St. Peter’s church on one side) to the historic Belvedere mound and revel in the stunning carpet of Bluebells at Weald.

Enjoy the rhododendrons and azaleas as they start to come into flower - a link to the heritage of the park, the owners of Old Weald Hall, the landscaping and planting of the place.

Or, for large carpets of bluebells and foxgloves, park at Lincolns Lane car park and head along the ridge into 'The Forest'.

Wander around, being careful to stick to the actual paths so as not to trample the flowers, and enjoy the colours among the trees. We are noticing that the woodland works are already starting to postively impact these areas, as more light reaches the woodland floor allowing the flowers to bloom.

Plan your visit to Weald Country Park.

• Did you know that over half of the world's populations of Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Bluebells grow in the UK?
• The Bluebell spends most of the year as a bulb underground.
• It emerges and flowers in April and May before the tree canopy gets too dense to make the most of the sunlight.
• They grow well in ancient and dense woodland because of the lack of competing flora.
• The Bluebell attracts many pollinating insects and ants can help to spread them.
• Our beautiful British Bluebell is protected, so please be careful where you tread and try admire them from the paths if you can. You can't dig up these flowers, if you do, you could be issued with a hefty fine! (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).
• Our Bluebell has a Spanish cousin, which was introduced by the Victorians as a garden plant. The Spanish Bluebell is much paler and has no scent.