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The main planting season for bulbs. for season planting main The

October to December December to October

Flowers shrivel and pods form on the stalks. the on form pods and shrivel Flowers

on your woodland site. woodland your on

June

instance, a greenhouse. a instance, growing area outside, ready for planting out bulbs bulbs out planting for ready outside, area growing

watered and cultivate under polythene/glass for for polythene/glass under cultivate and watered

The best time to lift cultivated bulbs from the bulb bulb the from bulbs cultivated lift to time best The affected by weather conditions. weather by affected

Sow bluebell seed in seed trays and keep well well keep and trays seed in seed bluebell Sow September

changes from year to year and seems to be be to seems and year to year from changes

October

the impact on the flowers flowers the on impact the weather, damp also

and store seeds collected in a cool place. cool a in collected seeds store and Flowers need warming conditions to flower but but flower to conditions warming need Flowers

Dry stalks & seed pods in trays or paper bags bags paper or trays in pods seed & stalks Dry this change, connected to climate change effects. effects. change climate to connected change, this

July to September to July 2 or weeks. There may be different reasons for for reasons different be may There weeks. or 2

April: now the date fluctuates over a period of of period a over fluctuates date the now April:

is the main seed collecting season. collecting seed main the is used to carry out woodland visits around 14th 14th around visits woodland out carry to used

drop from dry pods by wind disturbance. Mid July July Mid disturbance. wind by pods dry from drop on yearly conditions. For instance, in 1995 we we 1995 in instance, For conditions. yearly on

the ripe black ‘cress like seeds’. Seed is able to to able is Seed seeds’. like ‘cress black ripe the The main flowering period – peak time depends depends time peak – period flowering main The

themselves change from cream to pale green to to green pale to cream from change themselves April

fleshy green to dry straw and with the seeds seeds the with and straw dry to green fleshy

‘tri-lobate’ (3 lobed) seed pods which ripen from from ripen which pods seed lobed) (3 ‘tri-lobate’ plant bulbs (or plant in March ‘in the green’). the ‘in March in plant (or bulbs plant

Leaves start to die back, flower stalks produce produce stalks flower back, die to start Leaves Shoots appear – and is about the latest you can can you latest the about is and – appear Shoots

July January

The Bluebell Nursery Barrowmore Nursery Bluebell The Bluebell recovery project Activity Seasonal recovery Bluebell

20 Why...help don’t Save our Bluebells you... bluebellexpress News of the Bluebell Recovery Project throughout The Mersey Forest and SPRING 09

To our sponsors & volunteers... ROUND and ROUND the GARDEN!!

...we say Thank you! For about a fortnight (around the last week in April and the first week If YOU would like to help secure the future of of May) a walk in one of Cheshire’s British Bluebells, Please contact: bluebell woods provides an inspirational experience: glorious seas of blue, the The Mersey Forest Team on: 01925 816217 unforgettable perfume of the flowers and Cheshire Wildlife Trust on: 01948 820728 Spring birdsong stimulating the senses and imagination. www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cheshire This year we have chosen 16 of Cheshire’s deciduous woodlands and gardens, that celebrate British bluebells. Discover them in a range of exciting Spring activities: Find out more about the bluebell nursery at Barrowmore Estate Join in with guided walks at some of Cheshire’s most prestigious gardens Visit a bluebell cottage garden or stroll through a nature reserve.

By the time this years bluebells are in bloom a new Resource Pack, produced by the Bluebell Action Group, will be downloadable from the rECOrd website.

For a copy of the Resource Pack

Contact rECOrd, the Local Record Centre for Cheshire: www.rECOrd-LRC.co.uk Celebrate British Bluebells Cheshire Bluebell Action Project

Visit some of our native woodlands and nature reserves

Anderton Nature Park Norton Museum 1 Bluebell walks throughout April 8 and Gardens and early May, with weekend events 26 April 2.30pm from Marbury Country Park. Find out all about the iconic bluebell on Contact: Dave James 01606 77747 this woodland walk with Paul Oldfield Northwich GR:SJ 648 753 from the Bluebell Action group. , WA7 1SX GR:SJ 548 833 www.nortonpriory.org Marshalls’s Arm Nature Reserve 2 4 May Bank Holiday Monday 2-4pm A short walk down a beautiful steep sided Combermere clough to the river weaver. 9 26 April 1-5pm Contact: Stuart Poucher 07788 570628 Bluebell walk, 2 miles approx, through the Northwich GR:SJ 649 727 estate and woodlands where visitors can enjoy vistas across the . Refreshments available. Dogs welcome on leads. Town Wood, Congleton Park Whitchurch, SY13 4AJ GR:SJ 590 422 3 April to early May www.combermereabbey.co.uk Bluebell walks with a member of the Wildlife Trust and Friends of Congleton Park. Gardens Contact Emma Hood 01270 529514 10 April to early May Congleton CW11 1JL GR:SJ 863 633 Weds, Thurs & Sun 11- 5pm Bluebell walk leading from the Tea Room to Tower Hill, with more bluebells in front of the Bluebell Cottage Garden castle. 4 April to early May Malpas SY14 8AH GR:SJ 535 515 Weds to Sun 10am-5pm www.cholmondeleycastle.com Two acres of mature beech, oak and hornbeam woods, carpeted in native M62 English bluebells. M62M62 7 Lodge Lane, Dutton WA4 4HP WARRINGTON 16 GR:SJ 581 779 M6M6 www.lodgelane.co.uk RUNCORN M56 M56 M53 8 AIRPORT 6 5 Arley Hall & Gardens 5 4 M6 ALDERLEY 25, 26 April & 10, 11 May 14 FRODSHAM EDGE A unique opportunity to take a walk 1 NORTHWICH through the bluebells in the historic NESTON 12 MACCLESFIELD Big Wood and back through the idyllic 2 hamlet of Arley Green. 15 Booking essential. A49 WINSFORD Northwich CW9 6NA GR:SJ 675 810 A51 MIDDLEWICH 13 www.arleyhallandgardens.com TARPORLEY 3 SANDBACH

CREWE 11 A49

10 MALPAS A51 9

Rivacre Valley 14 Local Nature Reserve Rode Hall Gardens April to early May 11 April to early May Bluebell walks in Well Wood, Hillside and Tues, Weds, Thurs & Bank Holidays Clayhill Wood, as part of the beautiful 400 2-5pm acre park. A mass of bluebells in The Wild Garden and 25 April 1.30pm adjacent woodlands. Bluebell Walk 2 May 9.30-1.30pm Booking essential Farmers Market, an excellent opportunity to please call 0151 3571991. shop and have brunch! Rivacre Road, Ellesmere Port GR:SJ 380 777 Scholar Green, ST7 3QP GR:SJ 819573 www.cheshire.gov.uk/countryside www.rodehall.co.uk Adlington Hall Barrowmore Estate 6 26 April 2pm Capesthorne Hall 15 April to early May Guided walk with Head Gardener, 12 26, 27 Apr & 3, 4, 10, 11 May Bluebell walks and home of the Bluebell Anthony O’Grady, through the gardens Bluebell weekends: Come and explore the Action Group nursery. and grounds, 15 acres of bluebell bluebells found within the Arboretum and six Barhouse Lane, Great Barrow woodland, rhododendrons and azaleas. acres of woodland. Chester CH3 7JA GR:SJ 475 693 Macclesfield SK10 4LF GR:SJ 905 804 Siddington, Macclesfield SK11 9JY www.barrowmore.org.uk www.adlingtonhall.com GR:SJ 840 728 www.capesthorne.com Lyme Park Walkden Gardens 16 April to early May 7 April to early May The Quinta Arboretum Guided walks around Lyme’s beautiful Visit the secret garden and discover 13 Bluebells on the western boundary Bluebell woodlands. Adult £8, child £4. beautiful bluebells along the Cherry Walk. overlooking the Dane Valley. Booking essential 07663 762023 Road, Sale M33 3EL GR:SJ 788 905 Swettenham, CW12 2LF GR:SJ 800 672 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

www.walkdengardens.co.uk www.tattongardensociety.co.uk GR:SJ 963 823 Leaflet Design : Moira Rae Carter