The specialist wildflowers and the wildflower meadows and woods are a large part of the attraction of the Chilterns.
Of course, the best time to see the bluebells carpeting the beechwoods is in May.
One of the very best bluebell beechwoods in the Chiltern Hills is Dockey Wood on the Ashridge Estate, and well worth a visit in May.
June is the time to enjoy classic buttercup meadows. Take a stroll for example on the Chiltern Way footpath and its not long before you’ll be enjoying a traditional British wildflower meadow.
June is also the month for wild orchids such as the spotted orchid which really thrives on the chalk downland of the Chilterns escarpment. Wild orchids can be found growing along the way in several places on the Ridgeway path.
The growth of wildflowers is encouraged by traditional grazing methods which help to keep the scrub from overunning the open areas of the chalk hills.
In a shady glade beneath the canopy of the Chilterns beechwoods few flowers are more striking than the foxglove. The tall spikes of the common foxglove, digitalis purpurea, are also a favourite with cottage gardeners throughout the Chilterns villages.
Its easy to overlook the attractions of our native flaura such as the dog rose, rosa canina, though bees easily find its perfumed flowers and overwintering birds rely on the autumn rosehips.
But one flower that is found only in the Chilterns is the Chiltern gentian, its cluster of tiny pink flowers a very welcome sight on the grassland of the chalk hills.
