Picture credit: Visit Reading.

The Bluebells are out! They arrived a little earlier this year, popping up all over my garden in places where they had not been planted by human hands! Bluebells are also a sign of ancient woodland, and these special woodlands will soon start to come alive with their beautiful carpet of colour.

They are a protected flower, and it is illegal to pick them in the wild. They have a very sweet scent, and are a beautiful bluey- mauve colour. Their pollen is very creamy, and the pollinators love them. The bumble bees will appreciate them as they start to forage, I am sure, as well as the butterflies.

Their Spanish cousin is not nearly as alluring, with a much fainter scent, and is more invasive by nature, and so a threat to our native bluebell. Both the Spanish cousin and our British bluebell are poisonous to pets and people.

Their symbolism is a flower of the fairies, and they spiritually are symbols of gratitude, humility, and everlasting love, all perfect for the Easter Message we celebrated this past weekend.

We had a lovely evening with the family on Sunday. Our own lovely Chris Shore chaired the gathering as Rob Harvey shared thoughts and offered clairvoyance. We had beautiful prayers and readings also. Thank you.

Thank you to our music team, our hospitality, and all those who stand by to heal. Special thanks always to those who set up, break down, and wash up.

Calendar up later.

Enjoy the sunshine and the beauty of the natural world.