Implementing the River Ouse Charter for the Rights of Rivers
Last October, 58 participants from 35 organisations — including local authorities, environmental groups, water companies, lawyers, artists, academics, community organisations and policy makers — gathered at Newhaven Marina Workshops, where the River Ouse meets the sea, to explore how the River Ouse Charter can move from principle into practice.
The symposium, convened by Love Our Ouse, Moral Imaginations and Environmental Law Foundation, tested and explored practical ways to embed the river’s rights into local governance, planning, restoration, water management and community decision-making. Through workshops, real-world case studies and collaborative discussions, participants developed new models for representing the river’s interests and rebuilding “right relationship” with nature.
Report about the River Ouse Charter Implementation
The resulting report captures a growing movement for ecological democracy — one that asks how rivers can be recognised not simply as resources, but as living systems with intrinsic value and a meaningful voice in shaping their future.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their expertise, imagination and care throughout the day, including the student facilitators from the University of Sussex and King’s College London Legal Clinic whose support helped make these conversations possible. As one student reflected: “This was a fantastic experience… it is a great thing you do.”
Read the full symposium report below.
