Year rings the changes as bluebells hit by cold

What a difference a year makes – from a carpet of stunning bluebells to a floor of flowerless foliage.

Last April, the region's beauty spots were awash with bluebells in bloom. But the harsh winter means the beautiful flowers will this year flourish weeks later than normal.

An annual bluebell walk around the grounds of Tettenhall College, which each year attracts hundreds of people, has been put back by weeks.

According to the National Trust, bluebells, are normally at their height around late April, or early May.In recent years they have been coming into bloom earlier as a result of milder winters and early springs.

But with a cold spring, which has seen snow hitting many parts of the country in the last few days, bluebells are not likely to be in full bloom until around mid-May this year.

Experts say the flower requires light and warmth coming into the forest floor to trigger growth. It is set to be latest peak in flowering for the plant since 1996.

Alex Poile, grounds keeper at Tettenhall College, said today: "I have been organising bluebell walks for the past 30 years and when I first started they were in the middle of May. Due to global warming they have been growing earlier and earlier. However this year we had a normal, traditional winter.

"Because of that, the bluebells have reverted back to how they used to grow. The weather has also had an affect on the growth of the trees and the grass."

This year's bluebell walk at Tettenhall College will be held on May 9 from 2-5pm.