The bluebell season could be short but sweet-smelling as ever this year owing to the early warm weather in March. Chris Price reports.

Fountains are being switched off, hosepipes are being banned and now the drought conditions are playing havoc with the bluebell season.

At this time of year, a wander in Kent’s woodlands usually sees ramblers treading on a sea of purple, but the strong, sweet scent will not last long this year.

The third warmest and fifth driest March on record has sped up the flowering process – but the lack of rain means they will wilt more quickly.

Rangers at National Trust properties across Kent and East Sussex, such as Emmetts Gardens and Chartwell, have predicted bluebells will peak this weekend in time for the end of the Easter holidays, continuing to the middle of the month.

The low winter rainfall means that bluebells could be smaller and less abundant this year but the dry conditions could mean those bluebells which do emerge will be well-scented.

National Trust naturalist Matthew Oates said: “The warm and dry weather of the last few weeks has sped up the flowering process for bluebells, but the absence of rain means visitors will need to be quick to see them – it could be a short but sweet season for bluebells, and other classic spring plants like the primrose.

“The bluebell starts growing in January with its sole purpose to flower before the other woodland plants, but in dry conditions the bluebell will flower less, will be less abundant and its growth will be stunted.

“The Easter holidays look set to be a good time to see bluebells in the south of England but this will vary depending on aspect and altitude.”

Bluebells depend on warm ground temperatures to help them grow and are normally, but not exclusively, found in old woodland, thick old hedges, bracken-covered hillsides and sea cliffs.

Normally, bluebells peak in a Mexican wave effect across the country, starting in the south west fanning out across the UK but dry and challenging springs can make them become more patchy and dependent on their location.

Last year, bluebells bloomed a couple of weeks earlier than usual following the mildest February in nearly a decade and a sunny April. In 2010, bluebells were emerging up to three weeks late in some parts of the country after the coldest winter for more than 30 years.

Another bluebell hotspot is Hole Park, near Cranbrook, which has its own approach towards making sure visitors see the best of its bluebells.

The 15-acre garden’s website (www.holepark.com) has a bluebell barometer, showing when the flowers are coming into bloom, on a scale of one to four. At the time of going to press, Hole Park was on level two.

Help update Bluebell Watch map

The National Trust is asking people to monitor bluebell sightings through an interactive Bluebell Watch map at ww.nationaltrust.org.uk/bluebellwatch

Twitter users can tweet the first part of their postcode and the hashtag #bluebellwatch to populate the map with sightings, photography and information on when the best time to see bluebells is.

Matthew Oates said: “The map will help us build up a clearer picture in real time of how bluebells are spreading across the country and will be a useful tool for anyone wanting to see these majestic carpets of blue.”

BLUEBELL HOTSPOTS

Chartwell, near Westerham

Emmetts Garden, near Ide Hill

The woods around Ightham Mote

Mariners Hill, near Edenbridge

The woods around Sissinghurst Castle

Hole Park Gardens, near Cranbrook

For details, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk or www.holepark.com