Somerset Council has approved a £5 million project to create new wetlands on the Somerset Levels and Moors, aiming to significantly improve water quality and biodiversity in the area.
Wessex Water proposed the construction of these wetlands in June 2025 at Kent Lane in Shapwick, situated between Bridgwater and Street. The wetlands will play a vital role in removing large amounts of phosphates from the River Brue catchment, reducing the risk of eutrophication. This process will not only enhance the region’s biodiversity but also help unlock additional housing developments in the catchment area.
The project will cover 25 hectares (nearly 62 acres) near Kent Farm, close to the village of Catcott and the Shapwick Moor nature reserve, which is managed by the Hawk and Owl Trust. The wetlands will specifically target phosphate removal from the Kent Drove Ditch and Mill Brook watercourse, which flows into the River Brue via Shapwick Moor Rhyne and South Drain near Glastonbury.
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Integrating natural physical and biological processes, the wetlands will improve water quality without relying on chemical treatments, unlike typical package treatment plants. Lorraine Isgar, a senior environmental scientist at Wessex Water, emphasized the company’s commitment to using natural methods to enhance river and stream water quality.
“This exciting project aims to reduce nutrients—especially phosphorus—before they enter the local watercourses feeding the Catcott, Eddington, and Chilton Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), part of the wider Somerset Levels and Moors. It will also provide benefits to both wildlife and local communities,” Isgar said.
Stakeholder collaboration has been key to designing a wetland and grassland habitat that supports both water quality improvements and wildlife, while including facilities for public enjoyment. After completion, the Hawk and Owl Trust will manage the site, with plans to develop footpaths, pond dipping areas, educational facilities, and improved access.
Adrian Blumfield, operations director of the Hawk and Owl Trust, highlighted the project’s impact: “This initiative will greatly benefit the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve by creating new habitats and visitor facilities that help people engage with important conservation work. After years of development, we are thrilled to move forward with these enhancements.”
Wessex Water is investing over £1.1 billion in projects to remove 1,550 tonnes of phosphates from southern England’s watercourses by 2030. Construction of the wetlands is set to start this summer, with the aim of having the facility operational before Christmas.