Bluebells

Bluebells although occurring across large portions of the Atlantic area, seem a traditionally British thing. Each April our ancient woodlands are decked with carpets of blue and green, and walkers, nature lovers and the like flock to the closest woodland to see this explosion of colour.

We host some of the most magnificent bluebell carpets anywhere, in our woodlands, and they are under threat. Unfortunately, a large proportion of the bluebells we see now are non-native, instead they are a hybrid between the Spanish and the British Race (Hyacinthoides x massartiana). The two are not easy to differentiate, and when hybridized it becomes an even more difficult task. Since first spotted in 1963, the hybrid has increased in number enormously, especially in urban areas. If this growth continues, it's likely we'll have to say good bye to the British Bluebell. I'm no expert on flowers, but it would be a huge shame to lose something so quintessentially British!

As my photography A2 project is on "Signs of Spring" I couldn't quite leave Bluebells out, so I headed to my closest bluebell woodland. Unfortunately, it's just a small carpet, but it was enough to get the shots I wanted.

Having shot the traditional bluebell scenes, I moved away from the representational style and began shooting in a slightly more abstract manner.