Where it Began
In 2025, our founder and Executive Director, Emmeline, became a leading name in the UK Rights of Nature (RoN) movement, being the first to successfully launch a National Parliament petition - calling the UK Government to grant Rivers & Drowned River Valleys (Ria’s) Legal Personhood (legal recognition) in England. She then embarked on a 100-day, 1000+ mile pilgrimage, setting off from the Helford River, Cornwall, following Rivers and sacred paths to Wales, and then back to, and across England, alongside the River Thames. Sharing the mission online as she journeyed, Emmeline grew a wonderful, supportive online community, her quest featuring on local radio, ITV news, in museums, art galleries, podcasts and blogs.
You can watch snippets of Emmeline’s journey on our Instagram
Where We Are At Now
The results of our parliamentary petition, although close, sadly did not warrant enough signatures required for a response from the government. However, it did succeed in building awareness, gathering momentum, and sparking Emmeline’s current 4-year research project, developing a new and connective RoN approach and guardianship network, specific to the Helford Riverscape, Cornwall.
Evolving RoN Research
We are working towards an interconnected ecosystem-based RoN approach and policy for the Helford Riverscape, which we hope will become legally binding. Mirroring our Guardianship practice and methods, we wish to look at Nature Rights in a holistic way, while being specific to the unique habitat types and ecology of the Helford Riverscape.
Emmeline is currently developing our RoN plan alongside some fellow marine and forest ecologists/biologists, while connecting with local MPs, councillors, advisory groups and conservation groups. Emmeline has also initially instructed Human Rights Barrister, Monica Feria – Tinta, author of ‘A Barrister for the Earth’, for advice in this project, with the further aim of instructing her advice/expertise in the project moving forward. Alongside, as a lead Guardian, Emmeline will bring a combination of Rights of Nature talks, workshops, ecological surveys, and creative film and storytelling events to the community.
We can’t share too much on the RoN research side of things at this stage; more to come as the journey unfolds.