The Manorial Court for the Hundred and Borough of Cricklade
The Snakes Head Fritillaries are not in flower yet, so please continue to help protect North Meadow by keeping off until further notice. The ground conditions are still wet and heavy footfall causes ground compaction which damages this delicate habitat. Continue reading “Still Too Early To See The Snakes Head Fritillaries”
The winter flooding has started to recede but the site is still extremely muddy and slippery under foot. Natural England are asking people to stay off the site for now whilst the remainder of the water dries up.
The first Snake’s Head Fritillary shoots were spotted at the beginning of March. We are hoping they will have a good year this year and put on their stunning display in April. Continue reading “Winter Flooding Recedes”
From Shoots to Roots: revealing the above and below ground structure of meadow plants
Vicky Bowskill and Irina Tatarenko from the Floodplain Meadows Partnership have been busy during lockdown. They have published this ‘Shoots to Roots’ botanical art showing some of the plants which grow in North Meadow. Continue reading “Shoots to Roots”
North Meadow is in full flood this week. The National Nature Reserve is part of the floodplain for the River Thames and River Churn. Floodplains take the excess water when river levels are high and can extend over a wide area. It is quite normal for the floodplain to be inundated during the winter months and is one of the features which creates this species rich for lowland hay meadow habitat. Continue reading “North Meadow in Flood”
Conservation grazing is about to start on North Meadow National Nature Reserve . Grazing with cattle following the hay cut is of vital importance to maintain biodiversity. North Meadow is a species rich lowland hay meadow habitat which is now very rare in the UK. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) estimate that less than 1500 ha of this habitat remain in the UK today. Continue reading “Conservation Grazing Vital for Biodiversity”
Please help to protect North Meadow by not visiting until further notice. Natural England have posted the notice below at all entrances to North Meadow.
Sadly the commemoration event VE75 planned for Friday 8th May and the Beating the Bounds walk on Sunday 17th May have been cancelled. These are truly difficult times and we hope everyone remains safe and well.
Clive Smith
High Bailiff of Cricklade
The election of the first three honorary freemen of the borough and hundred of Cricklade was witnessed by a large number of residents at a special meeting of the town’s ancient Court Leet in June 1987 as part of Cricklade’s 1100 anniversary celebrations.
The title was awarded to three men whose service to the town has been outstanding, Mr Dick Giles, Mr John Little and Mr Frederic Freeth, High Bailiff of the Court Leet, all men were in their 80s.
Other events to mark the occasion include the Saxon Fair on a weekend that was blessed with fine weather.
In all, there were 35 different stalls at Waylands including craft stalls demonstrating weaving, engraving and spinning.
During the afternoon the crowds were entertained by a group of street buskers, folk singers, the Waylands singers and the recorder group from St Sampson’s Junior School.
The evening’s entertainment started with a magic show and a traditional Punch and Judy show for children and the climactic finale to the duck races that had been taking place on the River Thames throughout the week.
Afterwards, Cricklade Town band entertained a large crowd in the High Street and there was a special traders’ evening with Morris dancing.
The start of the fritillary season is rapidly approaching and North Meadow is still flooded. The picture above, taken this morning, shows the water level is very high, as high as it has been all winter. Continue reading “Fritillary Season on North Meadow”
Large numbers of birds seen on North Meadow today. North Meadow has been flooded since mid October last year, almost 4 months. The water level has started to drop over the last few days. Hopefully this will continue to fall in time for the Snakes Head Fritillary season in April. Continue reading “Birds on North Meadow”