What wild flowers can you spot on your walk this spring?

Bee orchid

The bee orchid is a sneaky little flower as it looks like a female bee, which then encourages male bees to fly in and pollinate the flower. Sadly though this species of bee doesn’t live in the UK, so the bee orchid flowers here are self-pollinating.The best time to see bee orchids are in June and July. And if you live near grasslands or the coast you’ll have a better chance of spotting them!

Bluebell

Did you know that the UK is home to more than half of the world’s population of bluebells? So we’re pretty sure you’ll be able to find them easily on your walk. From mid-April onwards, bluebells spread a stunning blue blanket across our woodlands. And it really is such a beautiful sight!These much-loved flowers are known to be a favourite with the fairies and have a very distinct sweet smell too. So go ahead and stop to smell the flowers.

Cornflowers

Cornflowers were once thought of as weeds and were almost completely wiped out. But now these pretty blue wildflowers are purposely grown on the sides of roads, towns, gardens and farmlands, producing colourful displays every summer.You can find cornflowers between June and August, so there’s plenty of time to get searching and tick these off your lists!

Cow parsley

The little white, umbrella-like cow parsley flowers are a very familiar sight in the UK. These wildflowers grow rapidly in the summer, with the best time the see them between May and June.Not only are these flowers pretty to humans, but animals love them just as much! From butterflies to rabbits, everyone looks forward to seeing these bloom each year. Cow parsley can mainly be found in grasslands, woodland, farmland, towns and gardens.

Cowslip

Cowslips are sure to brighten up your walk with their vibrant, yellow blooms! These are early spring flowers that you can find during April and May. They’re actually used a lot in May Day and Easter flower decorations and for spring weddings too.You can find cowslips in woodlands, meadows, towns and gardens all across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Dog rose

Dog roses are actually available all year long. But it’s only in the summer months, June and July to be more specific, where you’ll get to see their white and pink flowers. During autumn they produce red flowers which often get eaten by small animals.These flowers can be found all over the UK! You’ll have an easier time finding them though if you’re looking in woodlands, farmland or along the coast.

Foxglove

Foxgloves can be found between June and September and are unmistakable with their tube-shaped, magenta flowers. The most likely place you’ll spot them are beside the coast or in woodlands. While they may be poisonous to humans (if eaten they can cause headaches, nausea and stomach problems) they’re an excellent source of nectar for bees.

Harebell

Harebells are a simple flower but definitely one of the prettiest you’ll see this spring/summer! Their vibrant blue bell-shaped heads hang in clusters on stems and are a real sight to see. They’re also sometimes known as ‘witches thimbles’ or ‘fairy bells’ so they have a pretty magical feel to them.The good news is, you can see these beauties between June and October. They can be found all over the UK, from the coast and grasslands to hillsides and towns. Be sure not to miss them!

Sweet violet

Sweet violet flowers are very important spring blooms as they provide nectar for many butterflies from April to June. They’re also insanely pretty! Unsurprisingly, given its name, these flowers were also used as a perfume in Ancient Greece so make sure you get a good whiff of them.You can find sweet violet’s in a range of different habitats such as woodlands, farmland, grasslands, heathlands and moorlands.

Wild orchid

Wild orchids are beautiful, bright pink flowers that are pretty common around Scotland and Northern Ireland, Southern England and Wales. And they’re known for their sweet, citrusy scent which only gets stronger in the evenings.The best time to spot orchids is during June and July. And they can be found mainly in grasslands, heathlands and moorlands. They may be a little trickier to find but they’ll definitely be worth it!

Wild garlic flowers

For most of the year, wild garlic spends its time in the woods as a bulb underground. But when spring arrives the garlic starts to emerge! Mesmerising white carpets spread all through the woods and the strong garlic scent that we all know (and love!) attract hundreds of pollinating insects.The best time of the year to spot wild garlic is during April and May so if you want to find them this year you'll need to be quick! While they can be found all over the UK they're more popular in the south and can only really be found in woodlands.

Wood anemone

Known colloquially as ‘windflowers’, Greek mythology tells how wood anemones were sent by Anemos, the Greek god of wind, to announce his coming in spring.

These flowers are found low-growing, and have six to seven large white or purple streaked petals, surrounded by yellow anthers.

Its flowers bloom between March and May and can be found in woodlands, graveyards, parks and gardens.