Meg Avon, 30, who married the River Avon in 2023 in a ceremony described as 'joyful', has celebrated her third anniversary by persuading Bath and North East Somerset Council to unanimously endorse a charter that respects the river's 'rights' to exist, flow sustainably, and not be polluted.
Council vote and charter details
The council voted unanimously at its full council meeting to adopt the charter, which includes rights to 'biodiversity integrity' and 'representation and advocacy'. Meg, a poet and campaigner, 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.'
Campaign group We Are Avon
Meg's campaign group, We Are Avon, has issued an urgent call for all councils along the 83-mile length of the river to follow suit. The group has recruited 120 river guardians to monitor the waterway and 260,000 acres of the surrounding landscape. Meg has also been working with the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE) on charter development and stakeholder engagement.
River representation
Meg, recently appointed the nature representative on the board of the UK River Rights Network, said: 'We are changing the story and shifting the narrative to one that understands the connection between us and nature.' Councillor Andy Wait (Keynsham East, Liberal Democrat) tabled the motion, stating: 'This is what I want for our Avon.' He expects all councils from source to sea to adopt the charter, noting that Winsley Parish Council in Wiltshire has already done so.
