The bluebells have been at their best, several weeks earlier than typical. This has followed a very wet winter (and not much drier early spring), that caused widespread flooding. Many local woods are still waterlogged. Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust, which controls most of these woods, has closed them to visitors to prevent damage. Gamlingay, Hardwick, Hayley, Waresley, Wistow and Lady's Woods are all closed. Brampton wood is technically open, but the advice is not to visit. Luckily, the little known and little visited Gamsey wood is dry, open and, when I visited last weekend, the bluebells were at their best.
Gamsey is a small wood and has a fair amount of undergrowth. When I went last year, cleavers and nettles were drowning the bluebells. This year, the bluebells had a head start on the greenery and were giving a much stronger showing.
