SnakesHead Fritillaries (North Meadow Cricklade) 18thApril2009
North Meadow national nature reserve is an old traditional hay meadow on the northern edge of the Wiltshire village of Cricklade. The reserve covers an area of 44 hectares roughly the size of 60 football pitches, the townspeople of Cricklade have had the right to graze livestock from the 12th August to 12th February. Years ago the meadow was split up into dozens of small plots, owned by farms who took the hay, several of the old carved stones positioned across the meadow, mark the boundaries separating the different “hay lots”
North meadow is of international importance as one of the finest examples of a lowland hay meadow in Europe, around 80% of Britain’s Snakeshead Fritillaries grow at North Meadow. This beautiful and nationally scarce flower is named after the shape of the flower bud before it opens and the snakeskin pattern on its petals, Once there would have been man of these meadows along the Upper Thames but few survive today; most being destroyed by modern agriculture & gravel extraction. During the Winter the River Thames & Churn frequently flood the meadow, this is a vital ingredient to maintaining the great variety of species in the meadow.
An afternoon visit to North Meadow with the family to catch up with a good friend allowed us spend an hour photographing these unusual flowers. Nothing of real brilliance but worth adding to the website.
6 Photos