This Spring/ Summer, the Ramblers is urging people to join a ‘Blue-tiful’ bluebell walk, and help save one of the countryside’s best loved flowers; the delicate British bluebell.

Bluebells – under threat

The Ramblers ‘Blue-tiful’ bluebell walks season will take place across the country in 100+ locations, from April to June 2009, as part of the campaign in partnership with the Natural History Museum and Plantlife to save the native British bluebell which is thought to be under threat from hybridisation with introduced Spanish bluebells. Walkers are encouraged to join a bluebell walk, help ‘spot’ bluebells, and enter their findings into a Natural History Museum online survey when they get home. Experts will use this crucial data to build a map of where the different types of bluebell are thriving.

The expert-led walks are free, open to all, and offer a chance to see some of Britain’s most beautiful woodland and countryside at its loveliest. Although the walks vary in length and difficulty – from family friendly 5 to 14 mile walks – all contain swathes of beautiful bluebells.

Ruth Wembridge, Head of Membership at the Ramblers, comments: “The deep blue hue and gothic arches of the British bluebell, currently under threat from hybridisation, have brought immeasurable pleasure to walkers throughout history. What better way to help preserve these flowers, than putting on your boots and joining a led bluebell walk through Britain’s loveliest countryside this Spring and Summer?”

For more information about the Natural History Museum/Plantlife led survey, visit www.nhm.ac/bluebells

For more walking related news visit: www.Ramlers.org.uk