Blog (Cricklade) - Visit Wiltshire

Clattinger Farm forms part of the Lower Moor Farm complex of nature reserves owned and managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. 

I joined the Trust for one of their guided walks, highlighting the Snakeshead Fritillaries which dominate some of the meadows here in April. Many people flock to nearby Cricklade to see these delicate flowers but Clattinger Farm is another fine example of wildflower meadows.

After having just failed to find the Fritillaries on my visit to Lower Moor Farm (see my previous blog) I headed to Cricklade – the first town on the River Thames.

The April sun decided to come out in force when I arrived at Lower Moor Farm, between Cricklade and Malmesbury.

Isn’t it lovely to see the buds appearing on the shrubs and trees after the winter? It’s got us thinking about some of the wonderful places across Wiltshire where you can enjoy spring colours over the following months. Here are some of the top places we think you’ll love…

Straddling the border of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire lies the Cotswold Lakes. This unique area was formed by gravel excavation which has resulted in over 150 lakes.

Cricklade North Meadow (a National Nature Reserve protected by Natural England) is an ancient flood plain on the banks of the upper Thames, which is renowned as one of the best examples of a lowland hay meadow in Europe. Before the days of intensive farming, many British meadows used to be covered in wild flowers. Today Cricklade is a living example of how the meadow used to look with its lush carpet of meadow flowers.