Early bluebells kickstart survey to save the woodland flower

Bluebells have astonished botanists by blooming in at least two parts of Britain more than a month early.
Sightings of bluebells were reported in Dorset on February 25 and in Surrey two days later, with one of the flowers thought to have been out several days earlier.
Researchers said the discovery of bluebells in flower so early in the year was unprecedented.
“We fell over backwards when we realised bluebells were in flower,” said Dr Mark Spencer, curator of the British plant collection at the Natural History Museum in London.
“They are extraordinarily early. The bluebell in Dorset showed signs of having been in bloom since February 21 which is astronomically early. February is the earliest we’ve ever known bluebells to flower.”
Deatils of the sightings, regarded as further evidence of climate change, were released as a survey to identify all the bluebells in Britain was launched as part of a project to establish how far the native species has lost out to foreign and hybrid invaders.
Members of the public are urged to take part in the survey by reporting sightings through the museum’s website, www.nhm.ac.uk/bluebells, where there are tips on how to distinguish between the native species, the invading Spanish bluebell and hybrids.
Spanish bluebells, Hyacinthoides hispanica, were introduced more than 200 years ago and have escaped with hybrid varieties from gardens into the wild where they threaten the native species, Hyacinthoides non-scripta.
Straightforward sightings can be reported online but the website offers the facility to record extra details should people be willing to bend down and measure various parts of the plants, including petal lengths.
The survey has been organised by the museum in partnership with the Ramblers’ Association and Plantlife, www.plantlife.org, a charity working to protect plants in the wild.
Bluebells, which can turn the floor of woodlands blue, were voted Britain’s most popular flower in a poll organised by Plantlife. More than 50 per cent of the world's bluebell population is found in Britain.
Dr Jayne Manley, of the plant charity, urged people to take part in the survey by reporting all the bluebells they see both in their gardens and while walking through woods.
"We have a global responsibility to conserve it," she said. "This spring’s survey is a terrific opportunity for the public to play their part to help conserve one of the UK’s most iconic wild flowers.”
Ruth Wembridge, of the Ramblers’ Association, said: “Bluebells bring joy to walkers everywhere in springtime, bursting into life in woodlands and hedgerows.
“Now as well as enjoying the sight of bluebells in the countryside, vigilant walkers can help scientists understand how they are responding to a changing environment.
“This spring, we are urging people throughout the country to get out, join a Ramblers’ Association-led bluebell walk, complete the online survey and help save this beautiful flower.”
Details of the association's suggestions for bluebell walks can be found at www.ramblers.org.uk/walkthemes/bluebells.html.

Comments

[Ed]

Hold on, what's all this stuff about 'alarmism'? It is accepted by Earth scientists that the Earth's climate has fluctuated over the years since it formed, through ice ages and hot periods. But having a way of life dependent on fossil fuels (e.g. 98% of european vehicle fuel) is increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and it is having a warming effect. The blooming time of bluebells is an indicator but hardly the main problem. The Medieval Warm Period which so many people here talk about, coincided with extended droughts and collapse of civilisations in tropical/sub-tropical areas. Water shortages is where climate change will hit us - but it will be places like subsaharan Africa, China/India, Australia and parts of the USA.

[Rupert Wyndham]

Bluebells flowering early - why not? More CO2, more plant growth. Thank God for CO2. Without it, I'd be dead and so would you.

RW

[Kerry]

Maybe the flower blooming is a anomaly like the typos in the article!

[john smith]

I agree climate change occurs. That doesn't mean it's bad or good. It happened during the middle ages. It got warm. It got tropical.. Man and the polar bears survived. Enjoy the variation and go joyfully to meet its challenges. The environmentalist worriers and government "humbugs" will give you an upset stomach if you let them. Heck! they lose money on all these Kyota stringent formulas if we are not going to worry over them.

[D D McGrail]

Considering records have been kept for only 200-300 years, how does anyone know what happened 1,000 years ago. Climate change is normal - otherwise Yosemite Park in California would still be a glacier.

[General Mortars]

Uh-oh!---Blame it on Global Warming. Call the GORE SQAUD to investigate this phenomena.

[pmcgeough]

Their use to be vineyards here all throughout London for centuries. That time may come back, and I don't know anyone who would not welcome that. The truth is, England is a temperate climate and extremely mild for how far north it is. We all know the main reasons why (Gulf Stream, maritime, trade winds, etc.). So no one should be worrying about these changes. They are gradual and with even minimal research one can see that climatic patterns are measured in terms of decades and centuries. On top of the temperature fluctuations, many hybrid species are increasingly resiliant to all types of conditions. Sorry, "Alarmists" these flowers just don't concern you.

[E. Patrick Mosman]

If historical records are searched one finds that climate change is the rule not the exception. While the flowers are blooming in England quite early, the winter of 2007 in the Southern hemisphere and 2007-2008 in the USA, Canada , China and even parts of Europe and the Middle East have been cold, even record breaking cold and snows in many places. England's early spring is envied by many.

[E. Patrick Mosman]

If historical records are searched one finds that climate change is the rule not the exception. While the flowers are blooming in England quite early, the winter of 2007 in the Southern hemisphere and 2007-2008 in the USA, Canada , China and even parts of Europe and the Middle East have been cold, even record breaking cold and snows in many places. England's early spring is envied by many.

[Gillian Goldberg]

The appearance of bluebells so early is extraordinary indeed. The magnolias, normally blooming what, around May, started blooming a week ago in North London, some of which are in full bloom.

[victor compton]

I have been observing a Mimosa tree outside my bedroom window, here in France near Cherbourg, since 1991. When I arrived the tree always bloomed in late March or April. Each year since it has bloomed earlier than the year before. This year it was in bloom the last week in January, and the blooms lasted very much longer than usual. This last year (2007) was also the sunniest on record since 1950 according to the French media with 300 sunny days, as opposed to 169, on average, yearly. I suspect the triggering factor is hours of full sunlight. Therefore less clouds hiding the sun, even if the air is cold, will produce earlier blooming?
After all, I feel great in full winter sunshine and much warmer than the actual temperature. Could not a plant feel the same way? And soil would retain a lot of heat. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.