A Trip To The Bluebell Woods

Bluebells. A photographers paradise, a blogging cliche or a wonderful display of Mother Nature in spring?

Either way I absolutely love them. I distinctly remember last year driving around trying to find a patch of bluebells to explore and take photos in and ended up shouting “there’s some” from a moving car and stopping by the side of the road. As you do! We scrambled through a break in the hedge with a 5 and 1 year old in tow and although it was a beautiful sight, felt like a real secret garden and we got some lovely photos, the fact there was no paths, no break in the blanket of flowers and we were conscious of not either getting stung, trapped or destroying the flowers in our path meant it wasn’t exactly an adventurous experience.

This year however could not have been more different, I had heard about a bluebell woods not too far from us that has been closed for the last two years but has re-opened now called Lodge Hill Bluebells in Yoxall, Staffordshire. I was so so excited to visit. It really did not disappoint, in fact it was better, it isn’t just a patch of bluebells, not just one field or a shadowed woods of those beautiful purple flowers but in fact lots of different walking trails with the most beautiful display of bluebells I have ever seen, literally everywhere you look.

We approached the entrance through the bunting adorned arch that welcomes you in, passing small patches of bluebells, large piles of sticks for building, tree log seats, hay bales strewn with vintage fabric, pops of colourful flowers in faded grey tin vases and perfectly placed log piles silently shouting the beauty of mother nature itself. Put together, yet wonderfully natural, a picture perfect pinterest scene if you ask me. The owners welcomed us with warm and friendly smiles and guided us through the different trails to go and explore.

Aside from the bluebells, it is the most magical location with a little brook, wonderful wooden steps, bridges and an expanse of open space. It’s a photographers paradise for sure. For the children it was brilliant because along all the trails there is a defined path so although steep in parts nothing was unmanageable and I loved seeing them both running around and enjoying themselves. Eva absolutely adores the woods and nature and despite her allergies she seems so at home exploring. We walked over some styles to the little brook where they dipped their welly covered toes in the water and Eva climbed a little, I can’t explain how happy this makes me as although she loves nature Eva has always been such a cautious little thing and it is so lovely to witness this develop and have such a wonderful place to do this in.

Along the way there were animals to see, fields of sheep that prompted Roma to re-tell me the story of when a sheep got out in the field next to Eva’s school, with the definitely made up addition that it looked over the fence and said “hello” to the children! Beautiful views of horses grazing and some pretty cheeky pigs that you can watch get fed too.

After the walk it was such a sunny day we sat on the hay bales and enjoyed a coffee from the gazebo/make shift cafe with the best lemon cake I have ever tasted! The girls loved the area to do some den building and we spent ages playing the lawn games too, there may have been a pretty competitive game of swingball between my sister and Eddy at this point. As we sat chatting I noticed the tree swing at the top of the hill and my gosh it is like something out of an idyllic childhood book. A serious woodland dream, and big enough for two, or four!

All in all it was probably one of the best simple days out with the children we have had in a long time, so much so in fact that we visited twice in one week, once with some friends and then taking Daddy and my sister too, as much as I feel like I want to keep it my own little secret and adopt it as my own back garden, it was probably better and more realistic to share the love!

It really has been beautifully done and my only wish is that the bluebell season lasted a bit longer, but if you are in the area it is a must visit and is open for one more weekend until 7th May. If you miss it though, pop it in your diary for next year and I’ll see you there!

xx

**This isn’t sponsored or anything I just absolutely loved it.