Oxfordshire's county flower count ruined by weather

Terrible weather has resulted in the lowest number of snake's head fritillaries being recorded in nearly 30 years.

This year, only 6,087 flowers were counted, dropping dramatically from 43,000 in 2023.

The count was carried out by ecologists from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) and volunteers at Iffley Meadows nature reserve, located on the banks of the River Thames in Oxford.

Snake's head fritillary (Image: BBOWT)

The number was also down due to browsing by deer.

This comes as BBOWT kickstarts a 'double your money' appeal.

It aims to raise £60,000 in just a week to aid floodplain meadows, much like Iffley.

BBOWT senior ecologist Colin Williams, responsible for overseeing the count, said: "The low numbers are disappointing, but not unexpected.

"Prolonged and extensive flooding of the site this year, along with recent heavy rain means many of the plants are really struggling.

"Strong winds and deer browsing have also obliterated many of the delicate flower heads.

"It was simply a dreadful year for snake’s head fritillaries at Iffley."

When BBOWT began managing the site in 1983, less than 500 fritillaries were reported.

Fast forward to recent times, the trust's guidance has significantly increased this number to more than 80,000 in peak years.

Floodplain meadows, despite being one of the rarest habitats in the UK, play a crucial role in flood prevention and carbon storage.

Snake's head fritillary (Image: BBOWT)

But these locations are rapidly diminishing, either taken over by expansive farming operations or lost to development and infrastructure projects.

BBOWT manages one in 10 of the UK's remaining floodplain meadows, including both Iffley and Chimney Meadows near Bampton.

A part of their ongoing conservation efforts involves the Big Give’s Green Match Fund 2024, which could double the collection to £60,000 for the Nature Recovery Fund.

Every donation will be doubled for a week, starting on April 18 at midday and running until April 25 at midday.

Mr Williams continued: "Funds raised will help us to continue managing this reserve as a traditional hay meadow, so that not only the fritillaries but all the other important plants and animals here will continue to flourish.

"If the weather behaves for the next 12 months, the plants should recover very quickly, as they have done many times before.

"I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers who braved the weather to help us with the count this year – we simply couldn’t do it without you."

To double your donation, go to the Big Give website and search for BBOWT’s floodplain meadow campaign or visit BBOWT’s website.