Galloping Gardener Walks © - Spectacular bluebells close to London! Join Britain's great bluebell hunt!

This year the National Trust has set up an innovative new website for Bluebells - and is asking everyone to share the latest news on bluebell sightings - you can do this by tweeting or emailing and your information will be added to the interactive map. It's a great idea and, with the vast number of bluebells dotted around the country right now, it's fun for all age groups. Like the tulips, the bluebells are early this year, so there's no better time to see them than right now!

Bluebells at Ramster in Surrey

With the wonderful spell of weather we're enjoying and the extra holiday we're getting this week because of the Royal Wedding, it's a great chance to get out and enjoy the countryside, and in today's post I'm featuring gardens close enough to London to visit if you're in search of bluebells. Ramster (above) near Chiddingfold in Surrey, has fantastic spring colour displays and is open daily until the end of June. Famous for its azaleas and rhododendrons, you'll also be treated to spectacular bluebell displays.

High Beeches in West Sussex is another fine bluebell location

In Sussex, you've got High Beeches garden - another favourite of mine - and easily accessible from London. Open every afternoon (1.00 - 5.00 pm) except Wednesday, you've got 27 acres to explore and spectacular displays of bluebells, azaleas, camellias and magnolias, as well as rhododendrons. A great garden to go with the kids, because there's so much space to run around!

Riverhill House has one of the finest bluebell woods in the country

And then of course, there's the famous Arlington Bluebell Walk in East Sussex - open this year for the 39th time and offering a walk through one of the most glorious Bluebell Oceans you're likely to find anywhere in the country! And close enough to Riverhill Himalayan Garden to combine the two in a day if you want a glut of bluebells. Open every day from 10.00 to 5.00 except Mondays, but open next Bank Holiday Monday.

An enormous amount of work has gone on at Riverhill House since I visited last spring and this year sees one of the best bluebell displays in the country. But there's plenty else to see beside bluebells and re-launched as the Riverhill Himalayan Garden, you could easily spend half a day here admiring what's in bloom. I'm planning a visit later this week, so will be able to give you an update on progress there. Open Sunday to Wednesday inclusive (10.30-5.00 pm), plus Bank Holidays.