Bluebells / Swell Wood

Swell Wood

by Jeff Bevan · Published 19th April 2017 · Updated 23rd April 2017

The ancient oaks of RSPB Swell Wood is part of the woodland stretching from Langport to the Blackdown Hills which I should visit more often. This corner of South Somerset is truly a wonderland of colour during spring.

Swell Wood in Spring – Swell, Somerset, UK. ID 810_7812

Bluebells

Swell wood is famous for its large colony of breeding grey herons. The herons are fantastic and I have sat in the hide at the base of the trees looking up on several occasions. But for me, apart form the birds at the feeders in the car park, my favourite are the flowers and the butterflies. At this time of year the loop of the Scarp Trail is a sea of blue and yellow.

Swell Wood in Spring – Swell, Somerset, UK. ID 810_7773

Its not a surprise that the scarp very steep and pretty inaccessible but next to the path there are a few gentle clearings full of bluebells

Swell Wood in Spring – Swell, Somerset, UK. ID 810_7837

I love the contrast between the blue flowers and the yellow of the celandines.

Swell Wood in Spring – Swell, Somerset, UK. ID 810_7825

Low down on the ground I pointed my camera through the celandines and bluebells to get this picture.

Swell Wood in Spring – Swell, Somerset, UK. ID 810_7789

I spend a lot of time on the ground taking pictures. If I have a single piece of advice for nature photographers then its take up yoga. Yoga allows you to get down at all sorts of angles, and more significantly it allows you to get back up again!

The Loop

Do not miss out the loop as the far end of the Scarp Trial. It has steps to help you with the steep slope and its open vista of the wood has a carpet of bluebells.