Meg Avon’s River Rights Charter Wins Unanimous Council Support in England

Activist Meg Avon, who married the River Avon in a symbolic ceremony in 2023, marked her third wedding anniversary by securing a historic environmental pledge. She persuaded Bath and North East Somerset Council to vote unanimously for a charter that recognises the river’s rights to exist, flow sustainably, maintain biodiversity and have representation.

Avon’s campaign, “We are Avon”, worked with the University of the West of England Bristol and the UK River Rights Network, where she now serves as nature representative. The charter urges all councils along the river’s 83‑mile length to adopt similar protections. To date the group has recruited 120 river guardians monitoring the waterway and 260,000 acres of surrounding landscape.