Earnslaw Quarry Lake, Malvern hills, Worcestershire.

Dappled woods and fresh foliage

From Earnslaw Quarry car park go north along the easy access path to a grassy clearing with several benches. Behind the banked wall of trees a path leads you down to Earnslaw lake.

Bluebells along the path

The trees around the clearing

Forget-me-nots along the path

Everything, the grass, foliage, gently unfurling ferns are so very very verdant, vigorous and vital. In the ancient woods all is new and every breath you feels is life affirming. Blue flowers in patches embellish the dappled floors. Earnslaw lake, the flooded quarry, mystically reflects the fairytale foliage.

Ferns unfurling

Nature on such a day as this seems bounteous and protective rather than red in tooth and claw.

Earnslaw lake from above

Mystic looking tree roots

Earnslaw lake reflecting it's surrounding and so disappearing

Beautiful Bankholiday Bluebell Bonanza, Callow End, Worcester.

Bluebells

Wild garlic by the side of the stream

 The bluebells I had spotted on Malvern Wells Common and the first bluebell in my garden appearing yesterday made me excited about the prospect of a bank holiday walk with friends and family, so I thought I would check out the bluebell walk, (as described  in detail just over a week ago). I expected to find the wild garlic in flower, and so was surprised to see their heads still shrouded from bloom. Soon they will be beautiful- but not yet.

Hawthorn blossom

The hedgerows though are splashed with wide swaths of hawthorn blossom, also known as May
blossom and seen in folk lore as a good omen to a
 fruit full growing season.

The skies today are the azure blue of the Mediterranean sea, and brought back warm memories of holidays.

The azure blue sky and an old tree

The lambs are now much more self assured and are grouping themselves with their peers rather than hiding in mother sheep's shadow. They are stocky and have delightfully pudgy rolls of fat around their thighs and necks. Charmingly they gambol the very
 picture of robust health.

But the woods of course are the highlight. Delightfully dappled by the warm spring sunshine they are enchantingly mystic looking. A peacock butterfly flutters by grabbing my attention, and the song of birds fill my ears with angelic cheer. The bluebells are open. Not yet at full strength- but by the weekend they should be in their prime. Proper delicate English bluebells modestly hang their shy bonny blue heads. The intricate shape of these perfect bells so precise and artful, natures pure design.
 The woods adorned in these precious sapphire jewels
 could not be more lovely.

Blue bell detail

Dappled sunshine in bluebell wood

Old Hills, Callow End, Worcestershire, Circular bluebell walk.

The best time to go on a bluebell walk is the first two weeks in May if you get the chance.

The main path with horses.

If you are looking for the perfect bluebell walk, about twenty minutes walk, no real steep sections, then this is the walk for you.  Park in the second car park on the road out from Callow End, ( on the right hand side). Walk along the main path, and about 100 meters on the left in a kissing gate. This will take you across a field with sheep in.

Sheep and lambs in the field.

The fallen tree.

Just follow the yellow arrows, but if you feel a little lost look out for the fallen tree, and the little bridge you are looking for is just behind the log.

The bridge over the stream

Wild garlic, almost in flower

You now walk along the side of the stream, If you are lucky the wild garlic will be in flower. They look to me rather like peace lillies, and although very garlicky, I quite like the smell.

The field with Malvern Hills behind.

As you look across the field you can see the Malvern Hills in the distance.

There is then a metal farm gate, which you go through, and on your right is the gate you then go through into the blue bell wood. The

 blue bells plants are already so thick on the

 floor of the wood, that this years display is

Dense bluebells in the wood.

 guaranteed to be amazing. Remember the 

first two weeks in May is when you want to 

visit. At some time in that fortnight I will do

 the walk again and blog the pictures of these

 delicate beautiful oh-so English flowers.

The wood

It is a very beautiful wood

When you come out of the wood

The dead tree

 you cross a field. Head towards

 the dead tree, and the little gate

 you are looking for is just behind

 it. Once through the gate there is

 another gate just to your right.

 Go through there. Take the main path,

 and then keep to the right and you are

The field with the dead tree

 back on the Old Hills "proper". You 

will pass a sweet bench and a few 100

 yards further on there is a patch of 

gorse. Then you are back on the main

 path that leads back to the car park.

The gorse patch.