Snake's Head help please...

[MagpieMick]

Hello all,

I need some help please, as i would like to see and photograph Snake's Head Fritillary prefarably in Kent, are they in Kent ??
Can you suggest a site/place/meadow that is in either Kent, Essex or Surrey thats if they grow down here i don't know.....thats where your help comes in..!!

Thanks Mick..

[ChrisJB]

I don't know of any places in Kent, but well known sites include Magdalen College Meadow in Oxford (where I saw them a few years ago) and Cricklade in Wiltshire.

Regards, Chris

[Kayleigh]

I had some in my garden, I think the wood mice have eaten them.

[badgerwatcher]

Walmer Castle grounds. I haven't been there this year but last year they were profuse under the trees on the lawn past the flower bed walk.
They're out in my garden at the moment so I expect they're out there. Mine are fading now.

[tufftie]

They were in flower in my freinds garden a few days ago. Got to speak to her tomorrow - only she's in sussex not kent?

[IanS]

Very few native sites around. Best ones are in and around Oxford (Magdalen College is full of them, but may themselves have been planted a few 100 yrs ago!) and the famous Cricklade meadow near Swindon I think. My guess is any found in Kent are planted.
There is also a field in Suffolk which is thought to be native, its open to the public this coming Thursday for just a few hours...See the Suffolk wildlife trust site.

[AdeKing]

Hi Mick,
I can't help with Snakeshead Fritillary sites in Kent I'm afraid, but I believe that most of the native sites for this plant occur in Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

As people have stated above North Meadow at Cricklade is probably the best single site, I seem to remember reading somewhere that it holds about 80% of the UK population alone.
Cricklade Fritillary Watch Wardens Report
Streetmap.co.uk- search results

Iffley Meadows in Oxford is another prolific site, but I've just come back from there today & most of the plants are now past their best.
Streetmap.co.uk- search results

I believe that Iffley Meadow is a native site, though the Magdalen college site on the other side of the river might have been planted.

North Meadow in Cricklade really is a sight to behold when the flowers are in bloom.

Regards,

Adrian

[IanS]

Not surprised to hear that the Oxford plants are going over now. They are usually in flower from the end of March in a good year.

[Jez]

Are Snakeshead Fritillary on the endangered list?

[m1.carson]

Hi,

The Womens Institute is usually a very good place to see them.

Max.