Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands

Bad by Woods near Daventry also great for bluebells

I went out with a friend for a dog walk earlier this week and the bluebells were in full bloom, a sure sign that it&#8217;s finally Spring. We’re so fortunate to have the most stunning woodland reserves in Warwickshire, many managed by <a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/">Warwickshire Wildlife Trust</a> and the <a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/bluebells-in-the-midlands">National Trust</a>. These beautiful fields of blue are now in flower and will only last a few weeks.
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Cawston Woods, (Cawston, nr Rugby)
<div id="attachment_26215" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26215" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-26215 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/IMG-4888.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/IMG-4888.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/IMG-4888-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/IMG-4888-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/IMG-4888-667x500.jpg 667w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />Taken earlier this week</div>
This beautiful privately-owned ancient woodland came under the threat of housing but was saved from the bulldozers by a 1,500 petition. It’s a real hidden gem – popular with dog walkers and very peaceful with the most beautiful bluebell walks.
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/RytonWood">Ryton Wood</a> (nr Ryton-on-Dunsmore) 
Ryton Wood, one of the best of the Princethorpe Woods covers 85 hectares and has been designated as an SSSI. Parts of the wood date back to the 11th century, with more than 40 species of tree and shrub, with oak the dominant tree. In Spring primrose, wood anemone and yellow pimpernel carpet the woodland floor and in the large, clear glades there are fabulous bluebell displays. Over summer watch out for an abundance of honeysuckle.
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/WappenburyWood">Wappenbury Wood</a> near Princethorpe
An ancient woodland dating back to the 15th Century with tranquil walks through a wildlife treasure trove and carpets of bluebells.  On a sunny day look out for spot butterflies like a white admiral and purple hairstreak, impressively 88 species of birds have been recorded, with sightings of warblers, woodpeckers and tawny owl. Park in layby on Burnthurst Lane. No dogs.
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coughton-court/features/discover-our-ancient-bluebell-wood">Coughton Court&#8217;s Bluebell Wood</a>
<div id="attachment_26208" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26208" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-26208 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/bluebellwood-e1556904820886.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="438" />Courtesy of the National Trust</div>
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Like neighbouring properties Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House, Coughton was set in the once great Forest of Arden. The best place to spot a sea of shimmering bluebells at this Tudor house run by the National Trust is Timm’s Grove, from late April to mid-May. An easy <a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coughton-court/trails/coughton-court-family-walk">one-mile walk </a>will take you over the fields to the ancient woodland where the middle of the wood is covered in a thick carpet of sweetly scented bluebells. If you are in need of refreshment afterwards you can pop into the Coughton Kitchen Cafe or the Stables Coffee Bar.

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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/OakleyWood">Oakley Wood</a>, Leamington Spa
A beautiful woodland with mowed paths to walk on and trails with banks of bluebells.
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/CrackleyWoods">Crackley Wood</a>, Kenilworth
A popular local nature reserve full of shady paths and open grassy glades famous for its spring bluebells dotted with delicate wood anemone, yellow pimpernel and common dog-violet. Car parking at several points on Crackley Lane.
<ul>
<li>Join Warwickshire Wildlife Trust for a guided Bluebell Walk on Wed May 8 at 7pm. If you&#8217;re interested email: enquiries@wkwt.org.uk</li>
</ul>
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/HamptonWood">Hampton Wood &amp; Meadow</a> (near Warwick)
This 12-hectare reserve is famed for its primroses, which mingle with bluebells, wood anemone, and lesser celandine. According to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust more than 500 species of beetle have been discovered here and the woods are abundant with dragonflies and damselflies.
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://www.ragley.co.uk/">Ragley Hall</a> (nr Alcester)
<div id="attachment_26210" style="width: 880px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26210" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-26210 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/Bluebells-at-Ragley-870x480.jpg" alt="" width="870" height="480" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/Bluebells-at-Ragley-870x480.jpg 870w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/Bluebells-at-Ragley-870x480-300x166.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/Bluebells-at-Ragley-870x480-768x424.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/Bluebells-at-Ragley-870x480-720x397.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px" />Bluebells at Ragley courtesy of Ragley Hall</div>
Why not take a walk around the 26 acres of formal gardens at Ragley and venture through the multitude of bluebells in Ladies Wood? Bluebell Walks will take place at this on May 11 and 12 2019. £5 Admission to the Ragley Gardens. Children under 5 are free. The Terrace Cafe will be open at the hall for light lunches and refreshments.
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="http://countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk/country-parks/hartshill-hayes-country-park/">Hartshill Hayes Country Park</a>, (nr Nuneaton)
Managed by Warwickshire County Council and covering 137 acres of woodland and open hilltop it has magnificent views across the Anker Valley and a stunning display of bluebells which are starting to bloom. Parking: £2.
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SLIGHTLY FURTHER AFIELD:
<a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clent-hills/features/discover-carpets-of-bluebells">Clent Hills</a>, (nr Romsley,West Mids) 
<div id="attachment_3944" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3944" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3944" src="https://warwickshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2017/04/1431744441219-resized-e1492732456931.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="350" />Courtesy of the National Trust</div>
You can find bluebells in lots of areas on the hills. One of the best spots is in the valley behind the Four Stones, where the sides of the valley are covered in bluebells, and the woods at the bottom of the valley are also carpeted in them. If you’d like to go further off the beaten track and discover more bluebell woods, then head over to Walton Hill.
<ul>
<li>National Trust volunteers will be running guided Bluebell Walks on Sat May 4 2019 (Family Walk), 10am &#8211; 2pm and Wed May 8, 10am &#8211; 1pm.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/wood/?woodId=4577&amp;woodName=stoke-wood" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stoke Wood</a>, near Bicester
This 400-year-old Woodland Trust site is carpeted with blue beauties in the Spring and has marked trails so you won’t get lost and eaten by the Gruffalo or anything (and please stick to them – apparently rare fauna there is under threat from trampling). There’s also a variety of butterflies and birds, including tawny owls.
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Blenheim Palace</a>, Woodstock
No explanation needed for Blenheim: beautiful heritage site plus bluebells is a dead cert.
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<a style="color: #0000ff" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome/features/bluebells-at-croome">Croome</a>, near High Green, Worcester
<div id="attachment_26209" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26209" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-26209 size-full" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/bparklandflowersspringbluebellswithislandpavilioninbackgroundcredittraceyblackwell.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/bparklandflowersspringbluebellswithislandpavilioninbackgroundcredittraceyblackwell.jpg 960w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/bparklandflowersspringbluebellswithislandpavilioninbackgroundcredittraceyblackwell-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/bparklandflowersspringbluebellswithislandpavilioninbackgroundcredittraceyblackwell-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2019/05/bparklandflowersspringbluebellswithislandpavilioninbackgroundcredittraceyblackwell-720x405.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />Courtesy of the National Trust at Croome</div>
At the former home of the 6th Earl of Coventry find great displays of bluebells in the Church Shrubbery, the Evergreen Shrubbery, near the Island Pavilion and the Shelter Belt. All the bluebells found at Croome are of the native variety. Another reason to visit is to see an exhibition of five recent landscapes by contemporary artist Grayson Perry currently showing this spring/summer.

The Best Bluebell Walks

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