There’s nothing quite like that uplifting feeling you experience when you notice the first wild buds of the year beginning to flower. From snowdrops and bluebells to rarer species like the greater butterfly orchid, there’s much to see as the frosts recede and the temperature creeps up.
In this country, we’re so lucky to be able to be surrounded by ancient woodland, moors and meadows where some of our most fertile flora are found. And the Ramblers has played a huge part in ensuring we are free to enjoy all the sweetest scents and stunning sights of the countryside. This special organisation has been fighting for walking rights for over 85 years, and has safeguarded access to thousands of miles of paths and open land up and down the country.
Become a member of the Ramblers today and you can enjoy Britain’s most vibrant vegetation using the Ramblers library of 4,000 tried and tested walking routes, or by joining a group walk organised by its nationwide network of walking groups. And if you’ve always felt like you wanted to give something back, you could even get involved in doing some volunteering yourself.
So, if you’re up for a ramble this spring, here are some of this country’s most beautiful wild flowers, and where you’re most likely to spot them...
Known colloquially as ‘Old man’s weathervane’ or ‘Shepherd’s weather-glass’ due to its tendency to close up when bad weather approaches, the scarlet pimpernel can arguably lay claim to being the UK’s prettiest weed. Its five petals are typically coloured on the orange side of scarlet, surrounding luminous pink filaments. Once very common, its population has dwindled recently, but you’ll still find them on arable fields and gardens, on coastal cliffs, roadside verges and chalk downlands throughout the country, though less so in Scotland.
One of the most spectacular springtime sights you could hope for is a carpet of bluebells on a woodland walk. Those purple-coloured bell-shaped petals are unmistakable, but the UK is home to both native and Spanish varieties. You can tell the British ones apart as they droop to one side, whereas the Spanish ones grow straight upwards. You’ll find them in forests nationwide, and they often signify an ancient woodland.
A rarer species of orchid, this stunning white flower grows tall and upright in open woods. Its preference for chalky soil means you’re more likely to find it in southern areas of the country, but they are hard to spot. Your best chance of spying it is in unimproved grassland and open broadleaved woodland.
Plentiful though it is, there’s nothing like the heady scent of wild honeysuckle to evoke the euphoria of the warmer months. These trumpet-like flowers start off a light cream shade before turning a yellow-orange, often with a red or pink flush. You’ll find it in woodlands and hedgerows and wound through trees and shrubbery. Honeysuckle is a vital plant for many declining insects, including the rare white admiral butterfly, as well as bumblebees.
This once widespread wildflower thrives in wetlands, and as a result, is unfortunately on the decline. However, its status as the county flower of both Cumbria in England and Sutherland in Scotland points to its continued prevalence in northern areas of the Britain, though it can be found as far south as the Norfolk Broads. You’ll see it in late spring around damp areas such as moors and marshes, and with the distinctive green stripes that run along its cup-shaped white petals, and its pink-hued centre, it’s an incredibly satisfying find!
As a member of the Ramblers, for just £3.05 per month, you’ll get unlimited access to the Ramblers’ library of tried and tested walking routes, plus its 50,000 fun and friendly group walks. But that’s far from all there is to the Ramblers. Your membership will help increase access to green spaces, open up more places to walk and boost Britain’s wellbeing one step at a time. After all, there’s plenty to do.
With its members’ support, the Ramblers...
• Helps thousands more people every year broaden their horizons on foot because walking in nature makes us happier and healthier.
• Maintains paths to prevent them being blocked or becoming overgrown, provides advice to walkers, and helps individuals overcome more personal obstacles, like a lack of confidence to explore or knowledge of where they can walk, because the Ramblers is committed to removing all barriers to walking.
• Helps protect walking access rights. As a result of over 85 years of hard work by the Ramblers, we are now free to roam across millions of acres of land, including national parks and national trails.
Find out more about the vital work the Ramblers does and pledge your walking miles in 2022 for the chance to win some amazing prizes.
The Ramblers is generously supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, as part of the lottery’s Climate Challenge initiative. People’s Postcode Lottery manages lotteries on behalf of 20 Postcode Trusts.
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