Reviving Somerset’s Enchanted Avalon Marshes

In the heart of Somerset, efforts are underway to restore the Avalon Marshes, a once-biodiverse wetland area steeped in history and myth.

The Somerset Levels, now farmlands, were once an expansive inland sea. These wetlands, drained for agriculture since Roman times, have suffered significant biodiversity losses. Environmentalists are now reversing this trend through the Avalon Marshes project, reviving the area's natural habitats.

Senior reserve manager Louise Treneman highlights the importance of restoring peat in these areas. Degraded peat emits significant carbon, but its restoration helps sequester carbon, combating climate change. Peatlands globally store more carbon than all forests combined.

The Avalon Marshes project has reintroduced water to the land, creating wet woodland habitats. Species like bitterns, great egrets, and marsh grasshoppers, previously extinct locally, have made a comeback. The project not only benefits wildlife but also preserves archaeological treasures like the Neolithic Sweet Track.

Mark Blake, another reserve manager, has seen numerous species return, including the carnivorous sundew plant. The area's transformation supports biodiversity and offers a model for large-scale rewilding. Environmentalist Ben Goldsmith envisions the Somerset Levels rivaling Europe's major wetland regions.

Government support for buying and restoring peatlands, coupled with a shift from farming to nature tourism, could further this vision. Visitors can explore these mystical landscapes by kayak or boardwalk, experiencing the revival of Somerset's ancient wetlands.

Projects like Avalon Marshes demonstrate the potential for ecological restoration, offering tangible benefits for both the environment and local communities. As these wetlands thrive again, they reconnect the present with Somerset's rich, mythical past.