Bluebells a Carpet of Colour In April and May!

 A beautiful crisp and sunny Spring morning had us up and out early to head down to the boat.

Our intention was to go up to the woods about an hour or so from base to see if they were in flower with all the Bluebells.
 The journey up was lovely, the ducks were swimming about with their tiny fluffy offspring in tow, herons were feeding at the waters edge and swans were sitting proudly on huge nests of reeds at the canal side.
I had not expected to have the woods to myself as it was such a beautiful day but it seems that the lure of the canal pubs is where most people preferred  to be,which was just fine by me.
There cannot be many things as good for the spirits as a walk amongst the Bluebells with birdsong in the air and the sweet aroma all around you as the sun dapples everything in glorious light as it filters through the tree top canopy.
People once believed that the bells called the fairies to meetings in the old woodlands and it took a brave person to wander through in case you were spirited off by fairy magic.
In  olden times the  bulbs were crushed to make a glue from the sap and it was used in starching collars and ruffs.

 I heard an unusual bird song and as I looked up ,camera in hand I saw a Nuthatch as it climbed a tree , calling to another in the distance.

Bluebells only thrive in woods older than 20 years of age  and they like dappled sunlight that peers through the trees.

 Our Boat moored up.

 The canal along side the Bluebell woods that most people just pass by.

 A Narrowboat goes by.

 The Swans on their nest, how many cygnets this year I wonder?

 Spring is a lovely time on the Lancaster Canal!