Brean Cross

Brean Cross Sluice divides the tidal and non-tidal parts of the modern river Axe. Flowing from the ground at Wookey Hole, the River Axe sweeps through Cheddar and towards the sea at Weston-super-Mare. A few miles to the south, the River Brue reaches the sea at Highbridge, having journeyed 30 miles across the Somerset Levels. This camera was installed and is maintained by the Environment Agency and can be viewed here All  content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The relationship between the communities of Somerset and the Rivers Brue & Axe is one that extends far back into the history of the county. Lying around or even below sea level, the Somerset Levels have been transformed from an extensive wetland area, once navigated along sweet tracks by our Neolithic ancestors, to the region of rich farmland and beautiful countryside that it is today. It is a transformation that has evolved over centuries, with each generation making alterations and amendments to the way water drains into the river network and away from the land. Not only are the Brue & Axe key to management of the land, they are also beautiful features within the landscape, offering a wealth of wildlife and playing a key role in the livelihoods and identities of those who admire and enjoy these watery places.