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Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Grant Legal Personhood Rights to all chalk streams

Open for signatures 36 signatures

What the petition asks

Chalk streams are globally unique rivers with ~85% of the total located in England. Some councils have recognised the River Test's "intrinsic rights", aiming to protect the chalk stream from pollution and obstruction. We ask the Government to grant legal personhood rights to all chalk streams.
Chalk streams are globally unique and significant ecosystems which are rapidly becoming devoid of life due to pollution. Personhood rights for rivers should grant legal standing to waterways, allowing them to be treated as legal entities with rights, such as the right to flow and exist free from pollution, and not merely as property. We believe this movement can help enable guardians to act on behalf of the river to protect its health and ecosystems, and that these rights are needed before the damage is irreversible.

Timeline

16 Apr 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 36
Status Open for signatures
Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened 16 Apr 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.