A carpet of bluebells is a cheering sight

A carpet of bluebells is a cheering sight. Enjoy the spectacle as masses of English bluebells announce the arrival of summer at these RHS Recommended Gardens

Bluebell Cottage Gardens in Cheshire is aptly named: from mid-April the 0.6ha (1.5 acre) woods adjacent to the garden are carpeted with native English bluebells. Visitors frequently describe the woods – a mix of beech, oak, hornbeam and elm – as breathtaking, both for the extent of the bluebells and their intoxicating scent.

‘Our woods are a remnant of ancient woodlands. The area was ignored when the land was cleared for agriculture, so the bluebells have been here longer than the villages and farms,’ says owner Sue Beesley. ‘That’s why they are now revered and protected. It would take much more than a lifetime to establish from scratch.’

To the west of Renishaw Hall Gardens near Sheffield lies Broxhill Wood which, in April and May, is transformed by what Head Gardener David Kesteven describes as ‘the most glorious azure carpet’ of English bluebells. The bluebells cover an area of some 3.6ha (9 acres) and are perfectly complemented by the delicate pink of naturalised Claytonia virginica and by the charming Classical Temple. See the display at its best during Bluebell Fortnight (22 Apr–9 May 2010) when the garden is open daily.

From late April to early July, the woodlands surrounding Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland are filled with one of the most northerly stands of bluebells in the UK. The clear light and long midsummer days bring out a striking, vivid blue, especially where the bluebells grow densely in open glades. A particularly impressive area is the coastal bluebell wood, alone covering 2ha (5 acres).

‘Unusually, the trees and their carpet of bluebells reach right to the top of a steep shingle beach and the highest tides almost lap up to them,’ says Head Gardener Iain Crisp.

RHS members can visit each of these gardens free of charge in May (Member 1 only). Simply present your valid Individual Membership card on arrival.