Bluebells in the North East - here's where to expect stunning displays
Guide to walks, woods and beauty spots around Newcastle, Northumberland, Durham and Gateshead where bluebells grow
by Barbara Hodgson · ChronicleLiveBluebell season is upon us and it tends to be one of the highlights of the spring.
With the early season snowdrops and crocuses over, and daffodils currently enjoying their time in the sun, which admittedly has been quite fleeing of late, it marks the time for these beautiful flowers to have their turn and they are set to turn woodland areas - where they like the shade - into stunning swathes of blue. They are usually in flower from mid-April until late May and no doubt walkers with sharp eyes already will be on the lookout for photo opportunities.
The Woodland Trust has previously said that early flowering can make the most of the sunlight that reaches a woodland floor before the full canopy casts its shade, adding: "Millions of bulbs may grow closely together in one wood, creating one of nature’s most stunning displays. Half of the world’s population of bluebells are here in the UK.
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"You’ll find them in broadleaved woodland, along hedgerows and in fields.” People might struggle to know the spot the traditional English variety so here's what the trust had to say.
English or not?
The Woodland Trust said the hybrid or Spanish bluebell is overtaking the traditional, sweet-scented native plants. Here is how to tell the difference:
Native plants are deep violet-blue although a genetic mutation can occasionally cause white flowers. The flower stem droops or nods distinctly to one side and almost all flowers are on one side of the stem, hanging down to one side.
The flowers are a narrow, straight-sided bell with parallel sides; their petal tips curl back and flowers have a strong, sweet scent.
The Spanish bluebells are pale to mid-blue and often also white or pink. The flower stem is stiff and upright, with flowers sticking out all the way round the stem.
Flowers are a wide-open, almost cone-shaped bell and the petal tips flare slightly outwards. They have little or no scent at all.
The Countryside Code urges people to protect the natural environment and not pick the wild flowers but to leave them from others to enjoy and so that they can multiply. Here are some areas where you can look out for bluebells in the North East - including some former recommendations and images sent in by our readers.
County Durham
Ragpath Wood in Esh Winning, County Durham, is joined to the village of Esh Winning by the Dearness Valley walk. This mixed woodland can display a beautifully-scented carpet of bluebells in spring, with ramsons - an old wild garlic - plus wood anemones and wood sorrel spreading from the banks of the river. See here.
Houghall Woods on the outskirts of Durham City, on the A177, has been recommended in previous years by reader Tracy Toulmin. She said: "Houghall Woods in Durham is a must."
Gateshead
Lands Wood at Winlaton Mill, is an ancient woodland site consisting mainly of oak and birch alongside birch, beech, alder and rowan. An extensive path network allows good access and ground flora such as bluebell and dog violet provide colour in season.
One walker has previously advised: “To walk the perimeter of the woods takes around 35 minutes. The wood is on a quite steep slope (though not that bad) so at some point you need to walk uphill if you walk the perimeter.
"Access can be gained by walking across the field from the car park at Winlaton Mill park or by walking down the main public path between the Lakes estate in Winlaton to Winlaton Mill. You can also access the wood from Winlaton Mill Village.”
Hedley Hall Woods, Sunniside: This tranquil site is a mix of ancient woodland, which cloaks the long, narrow valley of Ridley Gill, and newer planting on former agricultural land where medieval farmsteads once stood. The wood is home to red squirrels and brimming with birdlife.
The car park is on Hedley Lane, Sunniside, Gateshead. See here
Washingwell Woods in Whickham lie at the end of Watergate Forest Park. Car parking on the A692 Consett Road or B6317 Whickham Highway. Reader Elaine Conroy said: "Washingwell Woods is locally known as Bluebell woods. It's lovely this time of year."
A guide from Gateshead Council said: "It is a mainly coniferous woodland that once provided pit prop trees for the colliery. It is often referred to as the Bluebell Wood due to the large number of bluebells blooming in the spring."
Chopwell Woods near Rowlands Gill and High Spen, off the B6315, also has bluebells, reported reader Val Gibbons.
Northumberland
Scotch Gill Wood, a local nature reserve near Morpeth, has a super scattering of bluebells to see at this time of year. It's at Mitford Road, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1RG.
Embleton Beach, Northumberland - here the sands are backed by wildlife-rich dunes which are a haven for wild flowers. Cowslips, burnet roses and bloody cranesbill all thrive well in the coastal habitat but in spring the bluebells are set to be the stars of the show.
Halfpenny Woods, off Bebside Furnace Road, Bedlington, Northumberland. This is an oak, beech and sycamore-dominated woodland with large areas of wildflowers. Various birds and mammals including the great spotted woodpecker and roe deer.
Allen Banks at Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland, (with free admission and pay-and-display parking) is owned by the National Trust, and can be a lovely spot to see bluebells in all their glory - but this could be for a future visit as the National Trust website currently reports that visitors can't enter the woodland due to landslips and fallen trees: keep an eye out for updates here.
For future reference, this is the largest area of ancient woodland in Northumberland and in spring an abundance of wild flowers carpets the woodland floor with bluebells and ramsons, commonly known as wild garlic, into early summer. Storms have made many paths inaccessible here in previous years too.
Irthing Gorge in Gilsland was worn by the flow of the river Irthing, which now divides Northumberland from Cumbria. On its steep banks, this ancient woodland provides habitat for badgers and both red and grey squirrels as well as glades for bluebells.
This one involves a walk! You can walk to the head of the river and the impressive Crammel Linn waterfall - rated as one of the UK’s best wild swimming spots. Check out map reference NY634685.
Belsay Hall in Northumberland - here English Heritage gardeners planted thousands of bulbs in the past so keep an eye out here too! Admission charges apply.
Whittle Dene near Ovingham, accessed by walking from Ovington or Ovingham, can be another good spot and includes ancient woodland, where bluebells thrive.
Letah Wood at Newbiggin Bridge near Hexham also had bluebells and is home to red squirrels, roe deer, foxes and stoats. There is limited parking on Hill Road.
Newcastle
You can spot the odd patch of bluebells in Newcastle's lovely public parks at Throckley Dene, Jesmond Dene through to Heaton Park, Denton Dene, Elswick Park and Leazes Park in the city centre.
You can also buy a day pass to the private Gosforth Park Nature Reserve - see here - owned by the Natural History Society of Northumbria, or else can join and buy annual membership. See here for tickets.
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