In mid March we visited Wayland Wood, near Watton in the Norfolk Brecks. This beautiful wood is managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust and is linked to the story of Babes in the Wood.

In past years we have visited the wood in early May to see its Bluebells, or in winter when we have taken part in coppicing work parties. (Coppicing is a traditional form of woodland management and involves broadleaved cutting trees down to the base and allowing them to regrow. It allows extra light to reach the woodland floor, which encourages the growth of woodland wild flowers.) However, this year we went at a slightly different time, mainly to see the Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem, Gagea lutea. This was a plant species we had read about, but had never seen.

Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem grows in moist, shady habitats on basic soils and, although it occurs from Spain and Norway across Eurasia to Siberia and Japan, including Finland, it is restricted in its distribution in the British Isles. In Norfolk, Wayland Wood is the spot to see it.

Our visit was a success. We found a small patch of the plant beside a main path, but there was a much bigger stand further into the wood.

Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem is often described as being “shy-flowering”, so our sighting of the plant exceeded our expectations. A friend visited last week and it was still in flower, but Stinging Nettles were growing fast and threatening to engulf the plants. In another few weeks the Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem will die back for the year as the woodland canopy closes overhead and it will seem like it was just a lovely dream.

Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem is a perennial and, depending on the location flowers from March to May. It is a member of the Lily family, the Liliaceae. The plant arises from a bulb and the flowerheads form an umbel-like cluster of 1 – 7 flowers and each tepal has a band of green on its back.

Thanks to James Emerson for letting me know that the plant was in flower.