main menu

Introduction to the Harebell Hunt

IN THE SUMMER OF 2005
Help find out where our Harebells and Bellflowers grow in the wild.

The Harebell Hunt is simple and enjoyable to do. You will discover a lot about your local countryside as you do it – and not just about the harebells and bellflowers. But most important of all, you will be helping to protect the richness and variety of wildlife in the UK.

The Harebell is one of our most attractive and delicate wildflowers. The paper-thin blue flowers resemble tiny bells nodding in the wind, which are said to warn hares of danger. There are four other flowers that are closely related to the Harebell, all of which are members of the Bellflower family. These are the Clustered, Giant, Spreading and Nettle-leaved bellflowers. Threats to these species include habitat loss (e.g. grassland ploughed up or housing built); decline of grazing; decline in coppicing
(trimming back of trees to their stumps to provide a continual supply of poles and firewood); increased use of herbicides and removal of hedgerows.

Harebells and Bellflowers can act as barometers for the natural world, to measure environmental impacts and indicate where conservation action is needed. Please help us to record where they are,so we can try to determine the severity of the threats to these delightful flowers.

main menu