Bibury River Coln: Tourists Face Fences to Protect Wildlife

Visitors to the Cotswolds beauty spot have been accused of paddling among protected wildlife and even setting up tables in the river, prompting drastic action from the parish council.

Tourists could be fenced off from a picturesque river in the “world's most beautiful village” after visitors were accused of disturbing wildlife and turning the water into a picnic spot.

The River Coln could be fenced off in places after concerns that tourists are disturbing protected wildlife by paddling in the water. | Tom Wren / SWNS

placeholder image — The River Coln could be fenced off in places after concerns that tourists are disturbing protected wildlife by paddling in the water. | Tom Wren / SWNS

Bibury, in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, attracts thousands of visitors during the summer, but locals say the crowds have become a serious threat to its delicate environment. Now the parish council has approved plans for new fencing along parts of the River Coln to protect swans, ducks, fish and water voles.

Bibury in the Cotswolds attracts huge crowds, with visitor numbers reportedly reaching 20,000 a day during peak periods. | Tom Wren / SWNS

Council chairman Craig Chapman said holidaymakers had been “doing what they want” in recent months, with some paddling in the water and even setting up tables and chairs in the river during hot weather. He warned the behaviour was “highly detrimental to the wildlife”. Chapman admitted fencing off the river was “absolutely not what we want to do”, but said it appeared to be a drastic step needed to protect the environment. Funding for the scheme is still awaiting confirmation.

The move comes as the idyllic village struggles with the downside of its own popularity. Famed for its honey-coloured weavers' cottages and old-world charm, Bibury was described by 19th-century writer and designer William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England”. Its global appeal soared further after Forbes magazine named it the world's most beautiful village in 2025.

But the tiny community of around 600 residents can reportedly see visitor numbers reach 20,000 a day at peak times, bringing coaches, traffic gridlock and mounting frustration. Resident Kris Watts, 71, said she now avoids the village at weekends because the crowds have become so difficult to navigate. She said the River Coln was a protected site because of its water voles, adding that seeing people paddling in it left her exasperated.

Another resident, Victoria Summerley, who has lived in Bibury for 14 years, warned that litter was also a major problem. She said drinks bottles, coffee cups and other rubbish regularly ended up in the trout stream, which should be exceptionally clean.

Gloucestershire County Council has trialled coach drop-off points to ease congestion, but residents say some drivers continue to stop elsewhere. Locals blame social media influencers for fuelling the influx, warning that the village's postcard-perfect charm risks being overwhelmed by the crowds flocking to see it.