A successful day counting fritillaries on the North Meadow NNR this year included the opportunity to showcase North Meadow to the local MP Roz Savage (South Cotswolds). Whilst other members of the FMP team worked with volunteers on counting snake's-head fritillaries in the 200 quadrats, the FMP Advocacy Manager Olivia Nelson welcomed Roz Savage, and helped to lead the visit, alongside Natural England (Aidan Fallon) and members of Cricklade Court Leet , High Bailiff (Clive Smith), Waywarden (Anita Barratt) and Haywarden (John Barratt).
The FMP, NE & Cricklade Court Leet highlighted the research & management that goes on to maintain the national conservation significance of the NNR’s floodplain meadow. Unfortunately the snake’s-head fritillary flowers were past their peak, and there were fewer flowering fritillaries this year following the wet April/May of the last two years. However the meadow was a haze of white from the plentiful cuckooflowers, and the view led to a useful discussion on flooding management and climate adaptation concerns.
We covered issues ranging from grazing methods, the natural capital floodplain meadows can provide and the gap for grasslands within policy making. The High Bailiff Ceremonial Chain with its design inspired by North Meadow’s fritillaries was much admired! The visit was also an excellent opportunity to introduce the new interpretation boards and audio trail produced by the Court Leet and funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, providing information on the history, biodiversity and management of the meadow.
It was great to hear Roz’s interest & enthusiasm and we have raised the possibility of Roz Savage being the Species Champion MP for the snake’s-head fritillary. We look forward to working together on both promoting North Meadow and supporting similar grassland habitats across the country so they can provide an amazing array of nature based solutions more widely.
We would like to thank our amazing team of volunteers for once again turning up and contributing towards this valuable research.
