For centuries Glastonbury Tor has been an important place to visit because of its continuing association with religions, beliefs and rites, and also because the Tor is such a distinctive landscape feature on the Somerset Levels.
Many visitors have made it clear they would not like to see a site that has taken many years to develop from a diversity of past use, become managed in an inappropriate manner that does not take this past use into account.
The only structure above ground from this past era is the St. Michaels Tower, a scheduled ancient monument, though past excavations revealed a wealth of archaeological features below the Tower and on the 'shoulder' of Tor Hill. This area is due to be scheduled in the near future. Within Tor field the open landscape is important as the backdrop for the Tower. A different grassland regime would capitalise on the potential for this area to become important for wildlife, and thus give the visitor the opportunity to experience native flora and fauna in the countryside further enriching their visit.
The Tower is a robust structure that has survived since the middle ages, but needs to be comprehensively surveyed to determine its long term needs and maintenance.The Tower in the recent past has suffered superficial vandalism which caused distress to the visitor and local people. This type of incident leads to requests to 'fence off' this area which would exclude everyone. The plan tries to identify ways to protect the tower so that people can continue to enjoy the property.
Proposals for access, interpretation and management of the physical environment will always have to take into account the diversity of interests and beliefs that have made Glastonbury into one of the spiritual centres of Britain, and beyond. National Trust.