April in an Essex Wood

By Sally Pudney on 19th April 2016

Essex Wood April 1 019

It hasn’t rained since Saturday, so I thought it might just be dry enough in the wood for a visit. And I was right – the paths were quite dry, hardly any mud at all . . .  and the BLUEBELLS!!! I have never seen a bluebell wood like it.

Essex Wood April 1 039

Essex Wood April 1 028

The oak trees, hazel, field maple and elder are all coming into leaf, and as well as bluebells there are a mass of wood anemones, celandines, stitchwort, and clouds of white blackthorn blossom. There were birds everywhere – I heard pheasants and green woodpeckers, and I thought a couple of times I heard a cuckoo. A tree creeper was making its darting way up an oak tree.

Essex Wood April 1 017

The fields bordering the wood were full of oil seed rape in full flower, so in places there was the wonderful contrast of the bright acid yellow with the blue violet of the bluebells.

Essex Wood April 1 040

So now I’m really looking forward to getting started on my Essex Wood: April painting! 🙂


Write a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Website by John Wheal

All images © Sally Pudney 2024