RARE flowers are ensuring that visitors to a Cricklade nature reserve are being treated to an explosion of beautiful colour.

Around 80 per cent of Britain’s Snake Head Fritillaries can be found blossoming at North Meadow in Cricklade around April each year.

Guided walks allowing people to see this rare spectacle are being held around the reserve for the rest of the month.

Anita Barratt, of Natural England, who runs the reserve said: “The meadow is a very rare and special place and we should be very proud to have it in the town.

“The fritillaries could rapidly disappear with the changing climate we have at the moment. We work hard to maintain these species.”

North Meadow is located in the north of the town between the two rivers of the Thames and Churn.

For information on the walks which are running throughout April call Anita on 07795316191.