Red Sea: Spectacular display as thousands of red poppies burst into full bloom

10:12 AM

FYSAL

A stunning sea of poppies is attracting artists, photographers and tourists from across the country.
The startling vivid red flowers are blooming in abundance on a reserve in Bewdley, Worcestershire, where environmentalists are trying to return fields to healthland.
The delicate flowers have long been used as an emblem of sleep and death - Dorothy falls asleep among the poppies in the Wizard of Oz, while the paper versions commemorate soldiers who gave their lives in battle.

Sea of red: Artist Eddie Amess photographs the spectacular field of poppies on a reserve managed by Worcestershire Wildlife Reserve. They are trying to recreate the heathlands, which have been lost to agriculture over the last 200 years

But on this Blackstone Farm nature reserve, they are an symbol of hope as Worcestershire Wildlife Trust encourages native plants and wildlife to return to the fields, without the use of fertilisers and herbicides.

Andy Harris, the Trust’s conservation officer for the reserve, said: 'Our long-term aim for the fields of Blackstone Farm is to revert them to heathland.

'Blackstone is adjacent to our Devil’s Spittleful nature reserve which is one of the largest areas of heathland left in the county.

'During the last 200 years it’s estimated that Worcestershire has lost about nine tenths of its heathland – so it’s really important not only to conserve what is left but also to try and re-create some that we’ve lost.'

Picture perfect: The fabulous display of poppies in Bewdley, Worcestershire is attracting visitors from all over the country

'Part of this process involves low-input agriculture.'
The flowers are easy to grow as they don't need to be planted or inserted into soil - their seeds can just be sprinkled over the ground. But they are so delicate that heavy winds or rain could harm them
Mr Harris said the poppy field had been left fallow -unplowed and unseeded for a growing season.
He added: 'Not only are we leaving wide field margins for wildlife which are flower-rich but each year one of the fields will be left fallow – which will result in a fantastic display of colour.'s