The English bluebells, so characteristic of Chiltern woods in spring, will suffer with rising temperatures and increasing drought. They may give way to the Spanish bluebell, which has been planted in gardens for years and has already started to hybridise with our native bluebell. Spanish bluebells can cope better with drier conditions. The flowers are more upright, a paler blue than English bluebells and with much less scent. If we want to continue enjoying carpets of bluebells in the spring we may have to learn to love the Spanish bluebell.