Bladon Heath woods have the most amazing carpet of bluebells in April. It’s not just a small patch either but a wonderful swatch of purple across the woodland floor and paths that meander through. It’s free to visit and a wonderful Oxfordshire bluebell walk.
If you want to get straight to woods, they can be entered from Heath Lane in Bladon. There’s not a car park but free on street parking (just be mindful of local residents when you’re choosing where to park)
The lane is a dead end road and just before the final curve to the right you’ll spot some garages and to the right of that is a large wooden gate. It’s signposted for the bridleway to Begbroke which is only 1 mile away and a great way to extend your walk out.
Once you pass through the gate the pathway is a newly laid small pebbled route. Continuing on here for just a minute or so and you’ll quickly spot the woods off to your right.
There are tracks across the grass that lead into the woods and lots of pathways.
When we see bluebells in full bloom, it can be so tempting to step into the middle of the colourful carpet to take the perfect photo. But trampling on these delicate flowers causes them long-lasting damage. The bulbs also become damaged when the soil is compacted from the weight of persistent footfall. this delicate wild flower take a long time to establish – around five to seven years from seed to bloom.