It was lovely to join the High Sheriff, Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE, for “Future Communities: Living Alongside Historic Floodplains,” exploring our rivers, ecology, and the future of Tewkesbury’s remarkable landscape.
Following a fascinating guided tour with Dr Geoff Sallis and a warm welcome to Tewkesbury Abbey, Martin Collett from CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) and I contributed to the wider discussion.
My talk focused on the important work of Safe Avon’s citizen scientists and the challenges facing our rivers, from PFAS “forever chemicals” to concerning phosphate levels recorded locally.
Citizen science gives communities evidence to understand what is happening in our waterways, ask important questions, and support the campaign for cleaner, healthier rivers.
These rivers are also part of an extraordinary living landscape, including the Severn Ham and the wider floodplains around Tewkesbury.
Protecting them means recognising the interdependence of water quality, biodiversity, ecosystem health, and the wider landscape. It also requires communities, scientists, conservation organisations, and local authorities to continue collaborating.
We have something beautiful worth protecting: living rivers, stunning wildlife, the Severn Ham, and our home, Tewkesbury.
Thank you to everyone who took part and contributed to such a thoughtful and important conversation.
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