A CHANCE to see some rare flowers in bloom and help cancer research is on offer this weekend, when Cricklade Cancer Research will be hosting an open day at North Meadow nature reserve and the Cricklade Thames Hall.

The famous fritillaries are usually at their best around this time, and on Sunday guided walks will be conducted by the English Nature warden around Cricklade Court Leet at North Meadow at 11am and 2pm.

The RHS Britain in Bloom theme for 2006 is Biodiversity and to celebrate this, Cricklade Bloomers and English Nature are producing a wildlife garden display, plus there will be information on hand to help you attract wildlife to your garden. The wildlife garden will be on display in the Thames Hall, which will also be open for refreshments.

North Meadow National Nature Reserve is of international importance as one of the finest examples of a lowland hay meadow in Europe. It is protected as a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.