Fritillary Watch - 25th July 2010

North Meadow Fritillary flowers have finished their fantastic flowering spectacle for this year. The meadow has now been cut for hay and will be grazed by cattle after 12th August.

The meadow is still an enjoyable place for a walk. If you have binoculars bring them with you, there are a great variety of birds in the perimeter hedges, such as Reed Buntings, Sedge Warblers, Tree Creeper, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Long Tailed Tits, Grey Wagtail as well as Sky Larks, Sand Martins and Swallows overhead.

The good weather has brought out an array of butterflies; look out for Brimstone, Small White, Small Copper, Peacock, Common Blue. Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Gatekeeper and this week Clouded Yellow was seen. The Town is getting ready for the National Britain in Bloom competition, Cricklade has been nominated to enter this national competition for the third time, previously in 2008 Cricklade was awarded a Gold award and best UK small town as well as the outstanding community award and conservation and environment award for North Meadow. Find out more about Cricklade in Bloom here.