Field of Blue 2026 (1 - Hockley Woods)

We had never been to Hockley Woods.  It's a popular place, perhaps especially in school holidays, we know this because the car park is full, and we had to park in a local road.  All the roads we drove through had parking restrictions at different times, we found one where the restriction was earlier in the day.

Then into the woods, we decided to follow the path that goes around the edge.  There were few, if any bluebells.  Plenty of wood anemones, and some celandine.  It's a very open wood, but the fields of blue seemed to be missing.  There was however a path off the main path where the bluebells are incredible.

Anemones

Celandine

The path took us across a broken down fence to part of the wood where there was a great field of blue, a proper carpet - but not one I would like to walk on.  Stunning views all around.  The path looped back to the main path, so we returned to entrance, and then the car.

It was now approaching 13:30, so time for lunch.  The Bull is just down the road.  It was heaving.  We got a table and ordered our food.  The wait was not too long.  The food was poorly served.  My chicken was 'out-of-the-fridge' cold, they took it away and (re-?)heated it.  Then parts were red hot and other parts just hot enough.  We probably won't go there again.