Bluebell Woods in Milton Keynes

Shenley Wood
Good if you have poor mobility.
Heading North, turn right on to Merlewood Drive off the V2 Tattenhoe Street, almost a quarter of a mile North of the roundabout with the V6 Childs Way. The car park is on your left.

Cross the redway and bear left. there’s a path through the wood.

Howe Park Wood
The car park is off the H7 Chaffron Way, almost opposite the turning into the Westcroft shopping centre. There are hard surface paths suitable for wheelchairs, and the cafe is open every day.

Great Linford Wood
Turn off the V7 Saxon Street opposite Heelands as though you were going to the petrol station, but drive past the petrol station entrance and follow the road round to the car park.

Other Bluebell Woods in North Bucks

Rushbeds Wood
Good if you have very poor mobility.
Take the Ashendon road from Ludgershall. It comes out on the corner of another road; bear right there (the road’s signposted to Brill).

Keep going, and about 120 yards before the ’T’ junction on your right there is a short but very bumpy track (I grounded out at one point) that takes you over a narrow railway bridge into the car park.

There’s a path in the far left corner of the car park, and the bluebells were not far along, mixed in with primroses.

Little Linford Wood.
Owned and managed by the BBOWT, there’s a network of rides and nature trails. They also have dormice, great spotted woodpeckers and stoats. Click on the link to the wood above, for more information.

Low Scrubs Wood
Good if you have very poor mobility.
Take the A4010 from Aylesbury toward Princes Risborough. At the Terrick roundabout, instead of turning right for Princes Risborough, turn left onto the B4009, then immediately right.

Follow the road to Butler’s Cross, where you go pretty much straight on at the staggered junction. Take the first left. At the top of the rise on the sharp right hand bend, you’ll find the car park.

The nearest bluebells I found were on the right as I drove into the car park; about 80 feet in. The earthen paths were quite good, even after a shower.

Wendover Woods
Open access. Cycle trails and walks, great views. Open 8am to 7pm, this time of year. Lots of facilities including toilets. At the moment the cafe is open for takeaway only.

There’s parking charges; up to two hours, £2.70. Two to four hours, £5.00. Over four hours, £10.00.

Not now accessable

Hollington wood
A little way off road near Emberton, Hollington Wood, is on private land. There are permissive paths through the wood but they are currently closed; there is no public access. There are some albino bluebells in the wood.

Finemere Woods
(near Quainton). I tried to go there this week, but footpath access to get to the wood is closed. The alternative access just along the road has a no parking sign on it, due to the HS2 works. There’s nowhere else to park.

About Bluebells
The native English Bluebell is happiest in ancient woodlands where the soil is undisturbed and the trees cut out the sunlight in the summer, preventing other plants from taking hold.

Britain has about half of the world’s bluebells, but there’s a bit of a problem in Britain with Spanish bluebells. They’ve escaped from gardens over the years and can hybridise with the English flower.

It’s illegal to dig up bluebells in the UK, but they are easily (and legally) available to buy from plant specialists. Please don’t buy the Spanish ones, but do buy some native English ones for the shady spots in your garden.

If you get the “In-the-green” ones you can plant them right away, and they should come up next year. But if you buy dry bulbs you may find that they remain dormant for up to three years.