Glastonbury nature fortnight offers free walks and talks

By Laura Linham 14th May 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 4 minutes ago

Discover Nature fortnight will take place across Avalon and the Poldens from Monday, 18 May to Sunday, 31 May 2026, with free activities, talks and walks for local people.

The programme includes 22 events and activities, with some organised by the Step, Ride, Thrive project and others hosted by local charities and community organisations.

Walking and cycling routes, outdoor wellbeing projects and nature connection resources have also been compiled and can be downloaded from the Step, Ride, Thrive website.

Somerset Wildlife Trust has created a Nature Connection and Wellbeing Resource for the fortnight, offering ways for people of all ages to build a closer connection with the natural world.

The resource explores the five pathways to nature connection: senses, emotion, beauty, meaning and compassion.

Step, Ride, Thrive is also hosting six free evening talks. Speakers and topics include Somerset Butterfly Conservation, the Somerset Eel Recovery Project, the Strawberry Line greenway, rewilding charity Heal Somerset, wildlife guide Nick Patel and Wessex Archaeology on a newly discovered prehistoric trackway at Honeygar, Westhay.

A photography competition is also running, open to adults and children.

The themes are Discovering Nature at the Avalon Marshes and Discovering Nature in your Community. Winning photographs will be displayed at the Avalon Marshes Centre, with winners receiving a canvas or print of their image and free day passes to Glastonbury Abbey.

People can also take part in local Somerset Health Walks and other guided walks, including events run by the RSPB and the Hawk and Owl Trust.

The first Tree Walk at the Avalon Marshes will take place on Friday, 29 May, from 10am to 11.30am, led by Matt Witt.

The walk is timed to connect with the 668 Libra bus to the Avalon Marshes Centre. People can board at Street Library at 8.55am or opposite Glastonbury Town Hall at 9.05am, with the return bus at 1.33pm.

Glastonbury Abbey is co-hosting an event with Step, Ride, Thrive on Tuesday, 26 May, from 10.30am to 12.30pm, featuring the medieval herb garden and Abbot's Kitchen.

Friends of Bride's Mound will host a River Nature Mapping and Wellbeing event on Saturday, 23 May, from 11am to 2pm, in partnership with Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Step, Ride, Thrive will also have an information stall at a health and wellbeing event at Glastonbury Town Hall on Monday, 18 May. The event is organised by Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and West Mendip PCN.

The project is encouraging families, communities and organisations to get involved, whether by joining an event, planning a nature-based activity or choosing active travel such as walking, cycling or using the bus.

Step, Ride, Thrive brings together active travel, nature connection and community health and wellbeing. It is led by 23 parishes in the Avalon and Poldens area and funded through a grant from Somerset Council and the Somerset Association of Local Councils.