5 Spots for Bluebells in South London

Another sign of spring in London usually happens in mid-April, but the year because of our colder than usual spring, English bluebells didn’t start appearing until early May.

Bluebells are native to western Europe, with the United Kingdom being having the densest population.

·       Did you know that nearly half of the world’s population of bluebells is found in the U.K.?

 

·       But please do not pick or step on the bluebells as they are a protected species.

 

·       Also, according to the National Trust, it can take 5-7 years for bluebells to bloom.

Here are a five spots south of the Thames River where you can find pretty bluebells in London.

 

Kew Gardens

A seasonal favorite of mine is Kew Gardens. Thanks to our annual membership, we visit here often. In March and most of April, we visited the gardens nearly every weekend. Finally, on April 27^th, I started seeing bluebells on the western side of the gardens and in the woodlands surrounding Queen Charlotte’s Cottage.

Battersea Park

Close to home for us is Battersea Park. Because of Covid restrictions, we’ve spent a lot of time walking, jogging or cycling through the park this past year. You’ll find most of the bluebells near the southwest entrance into the park.

There's another special spot for bluebells at St. Mary's Cemetery in Battersea. I was cycling past here and could see the vibrant bluebells from the road.

Wandle River

I think I’ve cycled more this past year than I ever had in my life. When you spend most of the year either unemployed or furloughed, you find yourself with a lot of free time. The Wandle River is actually a tributary of the Thames in southwest London and actually has a pretty nice cycle/walking path that runs for 12.5 miles, starting near Wandsworth and leading south to East Croydon.

Back in its industrial heyday, the Wandle River was the “hardest working river in London,” with more than 900 mills along its banks. You can still find two water wheels near Merton Abbey Mills and in Morden Hall Park. You’ll find quite a few bluebells in boths of these locations.

Near the end of the Wandle Valley Park trail, you may find some more bluebells near Carshalton Ponds. 

Lesnes Abbey

Aftter living in London for nearly five years, I finally made it over to Lesnes Abbey, a 12th-century monastery founded east of Greenwich. The ruins of this medieval Augustinian abbey stand near the south bank of the Thames and was one of the first places suppressed by Carnidal Wolsey on behalf of King Henry VIII in 1525.

Behind the abbey site is a large area of woodland known as Lesnes Abbey Wood, created from the medieval monastic parkland. This is by far the most impressive area of wooded bluebells that I have ever seen in London. Mark your calendars to see the bluebells here next spring!

From central London, take the train from London Bridge rail station to Abbey Wood and walk to the parkland.

Wimbledon Park

I wasn’t able to get to Wimbledon Park this year, but in the past, I’ve spotted bluebells while walking through the wooded areas. You can’t miss them, but please don’t step on the bluebells.

 

Where is your favorite area to find English bluebells in London or elsewhere in the UK?

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A London Spring in Battersea

Most of this spring was spent under long-lasting Covid restrictions in London. That has given me more time to appreciate the changing seasons.

I’ve walked and cycled numerous times through our neighborhood of Battersea in southwest London as well as the surrounding neighborhoods. I’ve seen the snowdrops appear in January and February followed by sunny daffodils, then bright pink cherry blossoms in April and finally the English bluebells and purple wisteria blossoms. The latter usually appearing in April through May.

The New York Times recently posed an interesting question: "After a year of languishing, New York City is flourishing. More so than usual?...Have the flowers changed or have we?"

I know that I've changed after experiencing life in a pandemic as well as several lockdowns. I’ve been waiting for my life to return to normal. I also know I've had more time to notice the spring flowers around me. How about you?

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London in Snow Photo Post

London rarely gets snow, but this year, we were in for a snowy treat at the end of January and nearly an entire week in early February 2021. 

 

When it snowed on Sunday morning on January 24th, it felt like a fairytale. We wandered over to Battersea Park and then over to Brompton Cemetery in Chelsea. Londoners acted like little kids out in the magical dusting of snow. Soon, the dusting turned into fat, fluffy snowflakes. 

 

Even though I grew up with several winter months of snowfall in the US, I still enjoy having a few days of snow. The several days of snow we experienced in London was just enough to (almost) forget that we're still living through an international pandemic.

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Beautiful Wisteria Blooms in London’s Battersea Neighborhood

A Detailed Post on Where to Find Wisteria Blooms in Battersea

Spring in London follows a fairly consistent pattern: snowdrops, crocus, magnolia trees, cherry blossoms and then the vibrant, purple wisteria vines.

While you’ll often find older wisteria vines climbing up fancy Victorian houses in posh areas such as Chelsea, Kensington, Holland Park and Hampstead Heath, I’ve found plenty of lovely wisteria in my own neighborhood of Battersea. Wisteria in London usually blooms during April and part of May.

Living here for nearly four years means I’ve seen the seasons change and have found plenty of opportunities to walk or cycle around – even under Covid19 lockdown conditions. I took most of these photos over the last two years, but a few I took during the past month. Keeping mainly safe at home means I’m also pining for sunny days when I used to cycle around the city and the English countryside. Hence, my desire to peruse old photos and write a new post on my nearly forgotten blog. 

I miss other things in life that used to be more consistent – like going to work, finding flour, going to the pub. Sigh, but such is life.

Anyways, perusing through my photo archives unearthed these wisteria photos for you. Enjoy!

Battersea Park

Battersea is a mix of architecture. During the late 1800s, many factories were set up along the Thames and near the railway, so housing estates – containing numerous small rowhouses – were built for workers. You’ll still find many of these old rowhouses west of Battersea Park and south of the main railway lines, running east to west. 

Wisteria on Battersea Bridge Road

Wisteria often grows over doorways like in these photos near Battersea Park.

Interestingly, many of the two-storied rowhouses along and surrounding Eversleigh Road have plaques dating to 1873 and 1874 on the facades.

Now, it’s not all cute rowhouses in Battersea. Post-World War II, a large part of this area was swept away in a vast municipal re-building plan. Ugly public housing estates and high-rises were built once the heavily bombed debris was cleared away. And then, there are the more modern, concrete high-rises built in recent years that also lack any botanical life.

But, there are still plenty of streets that I enjoy passing by in Battersea.

Clapham Common

As I cycled closer to Clapham Common, I found larger, more stately-looking Victorian houses. Most of the houses along Clapham Common North Side are swathed in gorgeous wisteria vines. Also, feel free to take a wander along Orlando Road, Macaulay Road, The Chase and Victoria Rise. Technically, most of Clapham falls in the Lambeth borough, but it’s not too far away.

One of my fav photos: pink on purple located on Oralndo Road in Clapham.

English Architect Sir Charles Barry, best known for his role in designing the Houses of Parliament during the mid-19^th century, lived at The Elms, 29-32 Clapham Common North Side. The building is currently used as part of the Royal Trinity Hospice.

Wandsworth Common

Then west of Clapham Common towards Wandsworth Common, you’ll find another style of architecture. Most of these Victorian houses are three-stories tall and free-standing, meaning not attached to the neighboring houses like the rowhouses. Obviously, there is more money in this part of the neighborhood, with the stretch of Northcote Road nicknamed “Nappy Valley” for the “yummy mummies” that patrol the area with their prams.

Still, this is a nice area to cycle or walk through. Sometimes, I’ll cycle down own street and then make a loop onto the next street so I can take photographs in the neighborhood. You’ll find quite a few houses along Bolingbroke Grove that are covered with wisteria vines as well as some houses just south of Wandsworth Common.

Sigh…Flowers keep on giving no matter what is happening in the world!

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