The warm weather has brought many more snakes head fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris) into flower. We are not at peak flowering which will occur over the next few days. Numbers are down on the best years but considering the very wet conditions in March/April of the last two years the fritillaries have recovered very well.
This weekend will be a good time to visit and if you do, bring your binoculars if 
you have some. They give a good view of the fritillaries across the meadow.
When you arrive have a look at the information board at the entrance (see above) which gives an overview of the meadow biodiversity and management.
If you want to find out more about the meadow you can listen to the audio trail, see the QR code marker post on the left. There is a map of the trail on the information board. If you enter at a different point just use your mobile phone to read any of the QR codes so you can listen to a meadow guide talking about the meadow flora, fauna, history and farming.
The Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) also commonly known as Lady’s smock are now flowering across the meadow. North meadow has 8% white fritillaries the rest being purple. Waterhay meadow towards Ashton Keynes has almost all white fritillaries and very few purple. No one seems to know why and both colours are regarded as the same species.
When you visit please stay on the marked paths and keep your dog on a short lead to avoid damaging this internationally important wildlife site and disturbing the ground nesting birds.
Many are unaware, but the law says that you must keep your dog on a lead no longer than 2 metres between 1st March and 31st July, when on any open access land to protect ground-nesting birds.
Check back here for the latest update on when the fritillaries will reach peak flowering.