Fairy Bells of Blue by Sylva Fae

Fairy Bells of Blue

by Sylva Fae

A blue sky is always a good excuse to escape to the woods for some fresh air therapy. I always have a surge of happiness as we turn onto the lane to the woods. That short drive, carefully dodging baby rabbits, signifies escape from the real world. I can’t explain the joy that this random bunch of trees holds, but they’re ours and they hold happy memories and promises of adventures to come. Our magical little woodland is special. The children eagerly pull on wellies and disappear into the trees long before we arrive at the camp. They seek out the familiar, climbing their favourite tree or racing to the rope swings. My husband also has his routines, checking the wildlife camera and making a fire are always his first priorities. I however, seek out the changes; I potter, camera in hand, to discover what each season has brought. For the last few weeks, I’ve watched the progress of the bluebells. With each woodland wander, I’ve eagerly headed to the bank on the edge of the secret field in the hope I’ll be greeted by a sea of blue. This visit was the one. I could smell the heady scent long before I arrived. It’s a unique smell. I’ve always associated colours with smells and this is the scent of violet; rich, sweet and exotic. I surged downhill, wading through ferns and brambles, in anticipation of the scene beyond.

The children charged on to run through the long grass in the field, leaving me for a little moment of calm with my bluebells. Just as well if folklore is to be believed, for the bluebells are fairy flowers. It is told that an unsuspecting child wandering into a bluebell ring, will fall under a fairy enchantment. Other tales claim that the wearer of a bluebell

crown will be compelled to tell only the truth.

I trusted my woodland fairies were a friendlier bunch than those of folklore and settled against a tree, my legs stretched out on a carpet of blue. I could see the children through the trees, dancing and twirling, then disappearing from sight as they rolled in the long grasses. As their voices blended with the breeze, the sounds of the woodland drifted back. I listened out for the ringing of the bells, a summoning for the fairies to gather. Instead, I heard only the hum of wings as bees and butterflies enjoyed their feast. This time of year is special to me and even without the fairies, I have fallen under the enchantment of my bluebell bank.

The Bluebell

Bluebells are known by many names: Wild or Wood Hyacinth, Wood Bell, Bell Bottle, Cuckoo’s Boots, Lady’s Nightcap and Witches’ Thimbles; they are also known as Fairy Bells and the sight and scent of them alone is magical. If you have ever wandered through an enchanting sea of blue, it’s easy to see why they feature frequently in local folklore. Their Latin name is Hyacinthoides non-scripta, but prior to the 1970’s they were called Endymion non-scripta – Endymion being a beautiful mortal youth from Greek legend, who was lulled into an eternal sleep by the moon goddess, Selene, so he would never grow old and die. Myth and magic surround this beautiful flower.

© Sylva Fae

Although bluebells can be found across Europe, fifty percent of them grow in the UK. Sadly, they are threatened by habitat loss and as such they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). Bluebells can take years to recover after footfall damage, as crushed leaves cannot photosynthesise, causing the plant to die back. Perhaps the fairies are trying to protect the bluebell, as local folklore warns that to trample a bluebell bed will anger the sleeping fairies and bring bad luck. Darker myths tell of children who stray into the bluebell bank, being whisked away to the fairy realms – definitely a deterrent not to step on the plants.

However gorgeous the bluebell smells, it is not edible – every part of the plant is toxic. It does have some useful qualities though, the sap was once used in bookbinding, because the toxicity repelled insects, and it was also used to glue feathers to arrows.

Traditionally, bluebells were used to cure TB and leprosy, but modern-day scientists are now researching their unique properties, that may one day be a cure for cancer. If this is proven to be effective, then the humble English bluebell truly is deserving of its magical names.

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator.

Sylva has published several children’s books and also writes a blog, Sylvanian Ramblings. Her debut book, Rainbow Monsters won the Chanticleer Best in Category award. Discover more about Sylva on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/