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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Samuel Firman

‘Contract between humans and river’: Bristol Avon’s rights enshrined in charter

A person stands waist-high in the water at Warleigh Weir on the River Avon.
Warleigh Weir on the River Avon near Bath. The new charter enshrines the Avon’s rights to exist, thrive, evolve naturally, flow sustainably and to not be polluted. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

One Monday morning in spring last year, 12 people gathered in the morning drizzle at Joyce’s Pool, one of the sources of the Bristol River Avon, and took the first steps of the inaugural Avon pilgrimage.

Over the course of eight days, a revolving cast of pilgrims walked about 100 miles from the source of the river to the point at which it reaches the sea, in some cases bivvying on the riverside at night. Along the way they planted trees, sowed seeds, restored footpaths and presented councillors and decision-makers with a fledgling Avon charter, developed by the Bristol campaign group Conham Bathing.

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