Over half the world’s populations of these iconic wildflowers grow in the UK.

In the language of flowers, the bluebell is a symbol of humility, constancy, gratitude and everlasting love.

In folklore, bluebells were said to ring when fairies were summoning their kin to a gathering; but if a human heard the sound, it would be their death knell. Not surprisingly, it was considered unlucky to trample on a bed of bluebells, because you would anger the fairies resting there.

Bluebells are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If you dig up a wild bluebell you can be heavily fined.

Bluebell juice was said to cure snake bites, but is chemically very potent & can be toxic in large doses.

Bluebell bulbs contain a starch that in Elizabethan times was used to stiffen ruffs, and gum from the roots was used to glue feathers to arrows & in bookbinding.