It is somewhat startling to calculate how long the Conservation Society has been doing its bit for Glastonbury. It is more than 15% of the tercentenary that the town recently celebrated: 48 out of the now 315 years.
The society was formed in haste in 1971 in order to save the Crown Hotel in the central Market Place from being pulled down, as had several interesting medieval buildings nearby; swift spot-listing saved a number of other sites too. The Crown has recently reopened (2021) after extensive renovation.
Another Conservation Society project was to rescue some of Glastonbury’s pre-Beeching heritage: the canopy from the railway station, by relocating it (ironically?) amid parked cars in the main central carpark, where it makes two acres of asphalt easier on the eye. The trees in the carparks are the society’s work too.
Today, Glastonbury Conservation Society:
- obtains copies of all planning applications and exercises the right to comment
- plants trees in town and 10 miles around: 51,800 trees in 48 years!
- hears interesting talks from experts on various aspects of our environment
- publishes a newsletter (approx quarterly).
1971-1988
1989-2001
2002-Present
A brochure describing the society’s aims and activities is available from this website — or ask for a printed copy.
The form for membership and annual standing order can also be downloaded (PDF).
The membership subscription is only £7.50 a year; members are of course free to give more. Glastonbury Conservation Society is a registered charity, number 264036. A Gift Aid form is included on the membership sheet.
(The annual subscription fee increased modestly in 2015, from £5, the first increase in many years.)
This includes membership of the Somerset Building Preservation Trust, of which the society is a corporate member.
