River Cary, Somerset

The River Cary

The River Cary is a river in Somerset, flowing across the Somerset Levels and finally entering the River Parrett

The Cary has its source at Park Pond in Castle Cary, and then flows southwest through Cary Moor to Babcary, where there is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest at Babcary Meadows and Cary Fitzpaine.

From Cary Fitzpaine the river flows north-west through Charlton Mackrell to the north of Somerton, passing under the Somerton Viaduct. Here the river channel has been straightened and drains the surrounding wetland as it heads north to Kings Sedge Moor.

The Cary passes through King's Sedgemoor continuing west across the moors south of the Polden Hills. At Henley it joins the artificial channels of the Sutton Moor Rhyne and the King's Sedgemoor Drain, both of which drain the wetland. Much of the water is now diverted into King's Sedgemoor Drain, which continues across the moors to join the estuary of the River Parrett at Dunball.

Incidents and studies

In 1995 a major pollution incident occurred when lindane and mercury seed dressing were poured down a drain which leads into the river near Somerton.

The river was the site of a study to examine the use of strategically placed floodplain woodland to alleviate downstream flooding.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about River Cary, Somerset)