Wildflowers in focus

Britain is often described as an overcrowded island, yet it still hosts some real world-beaters when it comes to wildflower spectacles. As a wildlife filmmaker, I’ve been lucky enough to track down wildflowers all over the planet, from the ephemeral blooms that colour the deserts of South Africa and Mexico to the world’s largest flower – Rafflesia – in the rainforests of Borneo. But I’d easily rank Britain’s spring-flower displays as equal to any of these.

“ I’d rank Britain’s spring flower displays as equal to any of the world’s wildflower spectacles ”

Take bluebells, for example. These are called ‘Atlantic’ plants, since they need the moist, warm conditions created by the Atlantic Ocean, so only grow in spectacular numbers in north-west Europe, with the very best displays found