It’s almost Bluebell season, when the woods magically come alive with a beautiful sea of purple. As photographers in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire we’re so incredibly lucky, as just on our doorstep, we have some of the country’s most beautiful Bluebell woods. We’ve put together a guide to the best spots…
The best time to visit Bluebell Woods in Hertfordshire
Bluebell season does vary a little year to year, and by region, but here in Hertfordshire it is usually late April to mid May, with the beginning of May pretty much guaranteeing you a good show.
Protecting the Bluebells
We do bang on about this, and photographers rightly have a bad reputation among conservationists for this – but not us!
Bluebells are protected by law, under The Countryside Act 1981. This means it is illegal to wilfully damage the plants – including picking or trampling them. In fact, if the flowers or plants are damaged, they won’t come back the following year. This is why you often see Bluebell woods fenced off or special paths constructed through them – to protect them from your feet. Please do stick to these paths and explain to your children why they need to do so, helping protect these beautiful flowers for generations to come.
We’re so passionate about this at Lightmonkey, we shoot from clearings and paths, using clever angles to make it appear as if our clients are sat amongst the sea of flowers. We play games with our little clients to help them avoid the flowers when moving through the woods and we have been helping our local National Trust team, at Ashridge Estate, along with a group of other local photographers, to work with and educate both the public and other photographers to help safeguard these flowers.
The National Trust have a great guide to help you photograph Bluebells which you can read here.
Ashridge Estate
Of course our favourite place to see the Bluebells is Ashridge Estate, where we have been running Bluebells sessions for eight years. This is one of the best places in the country to see Bluebells with stunning displays every year.
The most popular spot is Dockey Woods, where paths are cleared annually by the National Trust to manage the thousands of visitors who flock to see the breathtaking carpet of Bluebells. The National Trust often charge a small entrance fee to Dockey Wood, to help cover the conservation costs.
If you’d like a quieter spot, then there are two waymarked routes that run from the visitor centre and maps are usually available. The staff at the visitor centre are always super friendly and happy to point out the best routes.
The most up to date information can usually be found on The Ashridge Estate Facebook page here and information on how to find the visitor centre and other FAQs can be found on their website here.
2. Whippendell Woods
Whippendell Wood is an ancient woodland on the outskirts of Watford covering over 165 acres and is well known for its Bluebells. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and also links up to Cassiobury Park. If you park in the car park off Grove Mill Lane there is a short circular walk and you can’t miss those stunning purple flowers. Info and location here.
3. Oxhey Woods, Watford
This is a fabulous woods for families with little ones - the trails are wide and smooth enough for pushchairs. There is a sculpture trail, a great playground and a choice of walking routes including a short 1km circular route from the car park. For more info click here.
4. Heartwood Forest, near St Albans
Heartwood Forest is a newly planted forest developed by The Woodland Trust. Within it is the ancient woodland called Langley Woods, the best spot for Bluebells. The flowers are protected by roped off pathways so they can be enjoyed by the thousands of visitors who flock here every year without being damaged. There is also plenty to keep little ones entertained including a natural playground, den building areas and the Magical Woods where you can find lovely carved woodland creatures. There is a free car park but it does get busy at weekends, details here.
5. Wendover Woods
Just over the border into Buckinghamshire is beautiful Wendover Woods in the Chilterns Hills. It’s a great spot to see Bluebells. It has a lovely new cafe, natural play areas, a one mile play trail suitable for all ages, Go Ape treetop courses and even its very own Gruffalo. There is a large car park which has a small charge, information here.
6. Gustard Wood
Gustard Wood is one of Hertfordshire’s best kept secret Bluebell Woods and as a result, when the likes of Ashridge and Heartwood are heaving, Gustard Wood is fairly quiet.
This small woodland is on the outskirts of Wheathampstead and the Bluebells are found in Lamer Wood, along a 1.5 mile looped path. It can get very muddy so definitely isn’t suitable for pushchairs or very little legs.
There is no official car park, but there are some handy lay-bys on Lamer Lane, the B651. A great place for refreshments before or afterwards is the nearby Cross Keys Pub.
A lovely 1.5 mile trail is detailed here on the Hertfordshire Walker website, along with a map and GPS information.
7. Tewin Orchard Nature Reserve
This beautiful old style village Orchard bursts into colour in the spring with cherry blossom and Bluebells in the neighbouring ancient Hopkyns Wood. It is a bird watcher’s paradise and even offers Badger watching evenings.
Parking is simply in grass bays to the left of the track and there are no facilities on side. But nearby Tewin Bury Farm Hotel offers traditional delicious English Cream Teas in The Cowshed (a lot posher than it sounds and its a good idea to book) or Breakfast and Lunch in the Farm Shop Bar and Terrace.
More information here.
We hope you find some beautiful spots for enjoying the Bluebells this year. Of course, if you’d like some beautiful photographs taken amongst these stunning flowers you know who to call. We’re running full and mini sessions this year and all the information you need can be found here. We hope to see you in the woods!