A woman who is celebrating her third wedding anniversary with a river has now persuaded a council to protect it.
Meg Avon, 30, married the River Avon in the South West of England in 2023. Subsequently, she began a campaign to protect the river and raise awareness of water pollution.
The young campaigner and poet has now convinced Bath and North East Somerset Council members to vote unanimously at its full council meeting to endorse a charter to respect the river’s “rights” to exist, flow sustainably, and not be polluted.
The campaign group Meg is a part of, called ‘We are Avon’, have now issued an urgent call for all councils along the 83-mile length of the river to swiftly follow in their footsteps.
She has also been working with the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE) on charter development and engaging with stakeholders.
Meg, who has recently been appointed the nature representative on the board of the UK River Rights Network, said: “The fact that the council voted unanimously is very exciting.
“They even applauded at the end – apparently they never applaud!
“This really is a history making moment.
“We are changing the story and shifting the narrative to one that understands the connection between us and nature.
“It is about shifting public and political consciousness through these charters and therefore protecting the river as a living entity.”
Among the other rights listed on the charter are the “right to biodiversity integrity” – which means the river’s native species must be given support to thrive.
It also states it has the “right to representation and advocacy”, meaning there must be “active and influential voices” speaking up for the river.
We Are Avon has so far recruited 120 river guardians to monitor the waterway and 260,000 acres of the surrounding landscape.
Celebrating the milestone, Meg Avon said: “It’s about thinking outside of the human ego, and speaking for the river as its own entity.”
Tabling the motion to protect the River Avon, councillor Andy (Keynsham East, Liberal Democrat) told B&NES at the meeting: “This is what I want for our Avon.”
