Summary
On 5 December 2025, the Herefordshire Council approved a non-binding motion on a Charter for the Rights of the River Wye. The motion calls for the Council to support the rights of the river and its tributaries, which include: a) to flow and perform natural functions; b) biodiversity; c) be free from pollution; d) be supported by a healthy catchment; e) regenerate; and f) representation.
The motion resolves the Herefordshire Council to reflect the intrinsic value of the River Wye and its tributaries within the new Local Plan that is currently being drafted, and utilize the Charter for the River Wye as a reference document in framing ambitions regarding Herefordshire’s rivers. The Council also recognizes the priorities relating to freshwater habitats stated in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, including those to safeguard against pollution, restore and reconnect wetland habitats, and restore hydrological functions at a catchment scale, as well as the commitment in the Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-2028 to “do everything we can to recover the health of our rivers.”
Additionally, the Herefordshire Council supports “neighbouring authorities in their will to champion the Charter, toward a holistic, cross border and catchment-wide acknowledgement of the intrinsic value of the River Wye and its tributaries, and to publicise the collective response.”
Having been adopted at full Council, the next step is for Herefordshire Council to support the principles reflected in the Charter and integrate a nature-centered approach to strategic planning and policy development. In March 2026, the Herefordshire Council submitted a report titled “Executive Response to the ‘Charter for the River Wye’ that resolves the Council to identify appropriate opportunities to integrate the principles of the Charter in decision making processes.
Background
This motion comes after previous motions seeking the rights of nature and their application to the River Wye. A 2023 motion on River Wye Byelaws was brought to Full Council and carried by a simple majority. However, following advice, the legal team within Herefordshire Council determined that a byelaw was not an appropriate approach. Alternatives were sought, including a recommendation to the Nutrient Management Board to create a member to represent the Voice of the River, which was adopted, and a commitment to explore the concept of a River Charter.
Impact Statement
The passage of this motion is not yet legal recognition. It is an acknowledgment that signals intention around the rights of rivers, and marks a shift in institutional language and opportunity for further legal development.
Involved Organizations
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2026. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/herefordshire-uk-council-motion-charter-for-the-rights-of-the-river-wye/.
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