Glastonbury river event draws 170 to Town Hall

By Laura Linham 15th Apr 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 15th Apr 2026

More than 170 people attended a Glastonbury Town Hall event on the River Brue, with speakers discussing pollution, wildlife and plans for a River Charter.

More than 170 people attended an event at Glastonbury Town Hall on Friday, 28 March to discuss the future of the River Brue, with speakers focusing on wildlife, habitats and ways to prevent pollution.

The event was introduced by the Mayor and opened by Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke, who sits on the All Party Parliamentary Group for Water Pollution. The keynote speaker was barrister Paul Powlesland, who is known for his work campaigning for the rights of rivers and the communities that rely on them.

The event was organised by Glastonbury town councillors Lindsay MacDougall and Indra Donfrancesco, the town council's climate resilience officer Melissa Taylor, and a small group of volunteers. Organisers also highlighted the role of Vanessa Becker-Hughes of the Somerset Eel Recovery Project, and said the day had been inspired by Dr Richard Lawson and Dave Sawtell of LocalAction4Water.

Other contributions came from Somerset Wildlife Trust, Wessex Water, the local National Farmers Union, the Somerset Eel Recovery Project, Reimagining the Levels, and David Banwell, who has 20 years of experience with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and the Internal Drainage Board.

Simon Clarke of Somerset Wildlife Trust said: "We are keen to work together to deliver nature recovery on the Brue and within its catchment, and of course beyond."

Neil Macdonald, chair of the Wells branch of the National Farmers Union, said farmers were also ready to be involved. He said they "are very keen to be part of the solution to many of the issues raised today".

Organisers said the event gave local people a chance to share concerns and look at practical solutions for the River Brue. The meeting came in the wake of wider national concern about water pollution and river health.

Residents are now looking at setting up a River Charter for the Brue, similar to charters already created for other rivers including Bristol's River Avon and the Rivers Char and Lym on the Jurassic Coast.

People wanting more information, or interested in taking part in citizen science water testing, are being directed to the Glastonbury Town Council website and the new Living Brue website.