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North Meadow NNR,
Cricklade, Wiltshire
by G. Bradley
18th April 2007
North Meadow is a National Nature Reserve (NNR). It also has the designation of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because it's one of the finest examples of a lowland hay meadow in Europe.
The people of Cricklade have managed North Meadow the same way for hundreds of years.
Each year in late April/early May huge drifts of the delicate
Snake's Head Fritillary provide a breath taking spectacle
attracting thousands of visitors. Literally millions of these rare
wild flowers can be seen on this single site.
Photography
Photographing the flowers on the meadow is restricted to the public footpaths, but the footpaths give you a
clear view over
every bit of the meadow, so you won't miss anything.
Access
Access to the meadow is free. As you arrive at the centre of
Cricklade there's a mini-roundabout where you turn right. This
road leads you to North Meadow. There's roadside parking about 300 metres from
the reserve.
There's also car parking spaces in the village of Cricklade, which is just a few
minutes walk from the meadow via public footpaths. There's an access gate for disabled
visitors at the site, but the reserve can become flooded during wet
periods.
Top Tip
Make sure you visit on a sunny day to see the fritillaries at
their best. You'll see them in the best light either early morning
or late afternoon, and there will be less people around.
Grassland Flower ID Charts in the
UK Safari Shop
Snake's Head Fritillary Page
UK Safari Wild Flower Section
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