A woman who symbolically married a river has successfully persuaded her local council to adopt a charter recognizing the waterway’s rights and calling for its protection. Meg Avon, a 30-year-old campaigner and poet, wed the River Avon in 2023 during a ceremony intended to raise public awareness about water pollution and highlight the river’s environmental importance.

Following the marriage event held in Bristol, Avon and her advocacy group, We are Avon, engaged Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council to endorse a charter affirming the River Avon’s right to exist, flow sustainably, and remain free from pollution. The council voted unanimously to support the charter, an outcome Avon described as “a history-making moment.” Members reportedly applauded the decision, an unusual response during council meetings, signaling strong support for the initiative.

Avon emphasized that the charter represents a shift in how communities and governments relate to natural ecosystems. “We are changing the story and shifting the narrative to one that understands the connection between us and nature,” she said. The initiative aims to elevate public and political consciousness, framing the river as a living entity deserving of legal and environmental protection.

The campaign is part of a broader effort involving collaboration with academic institutions. Avon has worked with the University of the West of England in Bristol on the development of the charter and continues to engage with various local stakeholders. In addition, she has been appointed as the nature representative on the board of the UK River Rights Network, an organization promoting legal recognition of waterways across the country.

We are Avon has also recruited approximately 120 volunteer “river guardians” who monitor the river and its surroundings. These volunteers act as advocates, working to ensure that the river’s interests are considered in environmental and planning decisions. Each charter includes provisions for appointing a representative or advocate to liaise with governing bodies; Bath and North East Somerset Council has designated a river advocate to oversee all issues related to the River Avon.

The initial marriage ceremony held three years ago was conceived as an innovative way to bring attention to water contamination along the River Avon, which stretches 83 miles across southwest England. Avon has called on councils along the river’s entire length to adopt similar charters quickly, aiming to extend legal and environmental protections and foster a stronger relationship between communities and their natural waterways.