Displays of up to 300,000 nodding purple-chequered and white flower heads
The largest of only four remaining snake’s head fritillary sites in Suffolk, this reserve is an ancient floodplain meadow. Fritillaries thrive in land that periodically floods. In spring the emergence of the grass like foliage is soon followed by displays of up to 300,000 nodding purple-chequered and white flower heads in mid April to early May.
Eighteen fritillary sites were known in Suffolk in 1889, but sadly most have been lost through drainage or ploughing. The fritillaries bloom alongside early meadow flowers such as cowslip and cuckoo flower.
Visiting this meadow is only possible at an annual open event which we aim to hold during the fritillary flowering period.
Walking information:
Access grass/track and steep slope, 400 metres from parking to meadow. To avoid damage to the flora and hay crop, please keep to the edge of the meadow. Ground conditions can be very wet.