FINGERS are crossed that one of Cricklade’s biggest tourist attractions will be dried out in time for the bank holiday weekend.

The display of rare snakeshead fritillaries on the North Meadow reserve attracts several thousand fans every spring.

But in recent days the footpath over the meadow has been closed because of flooding and guided walks have been cancelled because of soggy conditions underfoot.

Management of the reserve is shared between Natural England and the Court Leet, which has ancient grazing rights. Members of the court are due to conduct guided walks at the weekend.

High Bailiff Clive Smith said: “We probably get in the region of 6,000 to 7,000 visitors at this time, especially to see the fritillaries and to have that number of people walking along the paths would make a complete mess of them. That is why there is a closure notice.”

The hardy fritillaries had been seen poking their heads above the water however and it looked as though this year’s display was good.

He said the latest information was that the meadow was expected to be open at the weekend. A review was planned for today and restrictions could be lifted tomorrow if the site has dried out enough.

The 45-hectare meadow is one of the most important lowland hay meadows remaining in the UK and has been managed in the same way for the past 700 years. It is home to wildflowers including the fritillaries, marsh orchid, cowslips, meadowsweet and yellow rattle.