At Coulters Dean Nature Reserve, nestled on the slopes of the South Downs and cared for by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, wood anemones put on a spectacular show. Their papery blooms, with hints of pink and purple on the undersides, are at their peak here in April, creating sweeping drifts across the ancient woodland edge and chalk grassland.

But this spring, it’s not just Coulters Dean where these early bloomers are shining. At Pamber Forest Nature Reserve, located near Tadley in North Hampshire, wood anemones are thriving thanks to habitat restoration work. In 2023, the Trust carried out traditional coppicing in parts of the woodland - an age-old technique that opens the forest canopy, allowing light to flood in. This increased sunlight has encouraged the anemones to return in greater numbers, their white blooms now sparkling across the forest floor.

Wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa) are more than just a pretty face. They’re a powerful ecological indicator, often found in ancient woodlands that have remained undisturbed for centuries. Slow to spread - just a few centimetres a year through creeping underground rhizomes – the large colonies suggest these flowers have been part of the landscape for hundreds of years.

Also known as ‘windflowers’, wood anemones sway gently with the breeze - a movement that inspired their name, rooted in the Greek word for wind, anemos. Anemos was the Greek wind god who sent his namesakes, the anemones, in early spring to herald his coming.

Each bloom only lasts a few days. These low-growing plants thrive in dappled shade, where they can make the most of spring sunlight before the tree canopy closes in. Their flowers open only when the sun shines, staying tightly furled on cloudy days, and are pollinated by early-flying insects such as hoverflies and solitary bees.

Though beautiful, wood anemones are fragile. Their habitats are easily damaged by development, trampling, or changes in woodland management. That's why wild places like Coulters Dean and Pamber Forest are so vital.