Emmeline Hardisty’s 1000-mile riparian pilgrimage for the rights of rivers

In the summer and autumn of 2025, Emmeline walked over 1,000 miles along rivers while campaigning for these ecosystems to be given rights that would support their protection and restoration.

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The Rivers Trust

28/11/25

In the summer and autumn of 2025, Emmeline Hardisty walked over 1,000 miles along rivers while campaigning for these ecosystems to be given rights that would support their protection and restoration. To do this, she established the Voices of Water Foundation. In this blog, Emmeline shares why she was compelled to take this action for the waterways she loves and shares insights from an epic journey – in which her own two feet carried her from Cornwall to South Wales, and then on to London.

Becoming a Voice for Water: How Emmeline’s journey began

The way a river flows has always brought me inspiration and comfort, ‘she’ always finds a way. Almost 5 years ago, I was sitting by the river, with a simple, yet coincidentally what revealed to be very complex, question that I could just not ignore - “where did it all go wrong?” It was this question that sparked a long investigative journey into the issues, environmentally and systemically, with river environments in the UK. This then led me to delve into environmental law and the ‘words’ I believe are not working – rivers being objectified under law, instead of being seen as the entities and life forces they truly are, with ‘their’ inherent natural rights protected and respected.

I believe rivers should have a say in how they are treated. This is why I found the Voices of Water Foundation (VoW) and launched a petition – calling the UK Government to grant rivers and rias Legal Personhood (legal recognition), and for a system to be created whereby River Guardians in many forms can come together to act on behalf of the rights of rivers.

a woman with a backpack and walking pole sands next to a river looking at the water

Embarking on a 1000+ mile pilgrimage for the river

To share the word about the petition, and this overall movement, on the 28^th of June 2025, I set on a 100-day, 1000+ mile pilgrimage from Cornwall to Wales, and then back across England, ending at the mouth of the River Thames, returning home on the 5^th of October. I followed and met many rivers at differing points along the way, posting daily updates on the VoW Instagram page, through which I was able to grow a wonderful social media campaign and community. Along the way, I connected with/met the River Camel, River Tamar, River Dart, River Exe, River Otter, River Severn, River Neath, River Thames, and so many more.

The act of walking with the water is truly healing, mentally and physically. I experienced a flow of emotions – from the joy of spotting the water colour flash of a kingfisher, to an otter running along the bank of the River Thames, to the despair of witnessing sewage spills, and so much litter poisoning and choking river waters – litter picking became a regular occurrence as I journeyed.

I also met so many wonderful, kind people, sharing their water stories of adventure and healing as I journeyed, and I realised that as well as water connection, this was also a journey of human connection. This feeling and realisation grew ever-present. I truly believe this is a huge part of reversing the disease of disconnect. So many beautiful things can happen when we listen and communicate, and this, I feel, can resonate and re-root beautifully in River Guardianship practice.

sat at the entrance of a tent, a woman eats from a camping pot

a smiling woman in a baseball cap looks over a river

The journey itself was also deeply and personally healing and very reflective upon what is truly important. As my mind cleared after so many years of research and paperwork, my senses and details were heightened, smells, bird song, light dancing with the waters and differences in sound of river flow. But undoubtedly the element that shone through the brightest during my pilgrimage was the wonder of water, and this existence we get to live because of ‘her’. This I was reminded of daily, every morning waking up to my first thought/question being - “Do I have enough water for the day?”.

On my last day, I was blessed to be joined by The Rivers Trust, Friends of the River Medway, Love Our Ouse, Rivers of Hope, river artists, musicians and poets, for a truly wonderful day to remember as they all walked with me on the last leg of the journey. But, although the VoW pilgrimage has come to an end, the journey for rivers’ voice and rights really is just beginning!

If you too believe rivers are alive and should be recognised as ‘entities’, given a voice in how they are treated, please sign the petition and stay up to date with the VoW mission: voicesofwaterfoundation.org.

a smiling woman walks through an arch of arms held up by a welcome party at the end of her walk

What is VoW?

The Voices of Water Foundation (VoW) is a soon-to-be CIO focused on river system restoration and healing through advocating for, acting on behalf of, and protecting the rivers’ voice and rights. Following the Rights of Nature movement, VoW believe rivers should have a say in how they are treated, and River Rights should be protected and respected. Therefore, with the rivers’ natural and inherent rights at the core of the ethos and focus, such as the right to be free from pollution, or the right to regeneration and restoration, VoW are:

Campaigning for a law change in the UK whereby rivers and drowned river valleys (ria) are recognised as the ‘entities’, the life forces they truly are, granted Rights, following the Universal Declaration of River Rights (UDRR).
Connecting with many to develop River Guardianship projects and groups, through combining science and policy, with art and spiritual practice.