Bluebells at risk of disappearing

Once a common sight on springtime walks, the British bluebell population at Black Country beauty spots is under threat from foreign species, experts say.

The "flagship" flower is also being harmed by growing housing developments and changes in climate. Simon Atkinson, an ecologist at the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, said: "There are two major threats to British bluebells. "The first is just general habitat destruction, where housing developments and the like are built.

But a big problem in our eyes is the hybridisation with the Spanish bluebell.

"In many cases they have been brought together by gardeners, who grow these things without any thought for the ecosystem. It can come from pollinating bees or people throwing garden waste where they shouldn't."

The man heading up a Europe-wide survey of the flower for the Natural History Museum said no detailed study had yet been conducted to find out exactly how badly the bluebells' population had declined in recent years.

Dr Mark Spencer's research focuses on DNA sampling of the flowers to establish what proportion of the native bluebell species is being supplanted by its dominant but less attractive Spanish equivalent.

But while acknowledging fears for the future of British bluebells in their normal woodland habitats, Dr Spencer said it was time the Government "pulled its finger out" and channelled funding into research of "flagship" national flowers such as bluebells.

"It's amazing that even with a species as important as the bluebell, we cannot answer the question as to how the population has changed. It may be that a change in climatic conditions will have an impact."

Meanwhile, beautiful bluebells can be viewed at Essington Fruit Farm which is throwing open its lush bluebell wood for visitors to experience this weekend. The walk takes around 20 minutes and can be undertaken between 11am and 3pm this Saturday to Monday.