A heartfelt thank you to Tewkesbury Abbey, its clergy, staff, volunteers, and everyone who contributed to this year’s annual High Mass Procession and Blessing of the River Avon.
It was a privilege to join the congregation for such a thoughtful and inspiring service, alongside the High Sheriff, Dame Fiona Reynolds CBE DBE, Councillors from Tewkesbury Town Council, and the Mayor and Councillors from Tewkesbury Borough Council.
The event was a beautiful celebration of the River Avon, but also a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to protect it.
We were also joined by Dr Geoff Sallis and the Tewkesbury Safe Avon team, who continue to monitor nitrate and phosphate levels in the river. These pollutants deplete oxygen, disrupt ecosystems, and harm aquatic life. Polluted rivers also have serious implications for public health, which is why the team is now fundraising for E. coli monitoring kits.
The urgency of this work cannot be overstated. During the first quarter of 2026, the three main sewage discharge sites around Tewkesbury recorded a combined 2,483.81 hours of sewage releases into our rivers. That equates to more than 103 days and nights of pollution entering our rivers in just three months (Twyning STW 41.95 days; Lower Lode CSO 19.47 days; Tewkesbury STW 42.07 days).
These figures show the scale of the challenge facing our waterways, and the need for continued action to improve water quality.
Churches and communities from across the Avon catchment are also coming together today to raise awareness of the condition of our rivers and to champion their protection. By working together, we can help ensure that future generations inherit rivers that are healthy, thriving, and valued as the precious natural assets that they are.
To find out more about how to support the campaign, please email Geoff at geoffsallis@btinternet.com. You can also visit safeavon.org.uk or the Tewkesbury Friends of the Earth Facebook Page to learn more.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this important event. I hope today’s blessing inspires us all to be good stewards of the environment and strong advocates for cleaner and healthier rivers.
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