Local river activists complete a 100 mile ‘Political Pilgrimage’ from source to mouth to protect their River Avon
- Hamish Evans
- May 3
- 4 min read
PRESS RELEASE
Communities across the Avon Valley are mobilising to tackle river pollution, protect wildlife, and strengthen local food systems through a new grassroots movement for action, ‘We Are Avon’. With a crowdfunder live until 16th May, the project is calling for urgent support to launch a five-year plan to regenerate the river, revive biodiversity, and build a more resilient regional food network. The movement has already engaged thousands of people, river activists, landowners and environmental organisations. Over 100 pilgrims joined on a 100 mile route following the River Avon’s journey from spring water to the ocean at Avonmouth.
Hamish Evans (27), project lead and co-founder of We Are Avon, walked the entire stretch from source to mouth, sleeping out by the Avon’s banks each night in a bivvy bag whilst organising for over 100 pilgrims to join on route and engage with their local river. Alongside this, the We Are Avon crowdfunder has already raised £20,000 from 180 supporters, with 2 weeks left to support this new movement to reach their target of £50,000. On the route the pilgrims planted willow trees where riverbanks were eroded, sowed riverside wildflower seed where ground was bare, and made paths where the right to access water was not honoured.
During the 8 days of the 100 mile walk Hamish observed that “the river is not accessible to communities for most of the journey from source to mouth. A small number of private landowners and water companies hog and pollute stretches of our beautiful river. The fact that it is unlawful to walk to your local river is itself a sign of how our society designs separation from nature. Without access, communities do not develop the relationships of care and protection that are essential to maintaining river, watershed and landscape health for all. The only activity that should be considered illegal on this route was the unimaginable levels of pollution, sewage and agrochemicals I experienced as I walked 100 miles from source to mouth.”
“I embarked on this political pilgrimage to raise awareness of the scandalous mistreatment of our rivers and the lack of access to our waterways. But also to showcase the natural solutions and community action that can reverse this in rapid time. On the journey there were also so many signs of hope and restoration activity from farmers planting riparian buffers to Beaver activity slowing the flow of water and creating myriad habitats. Over 100 pilgrims accompanied me and the river on this journey, demonstrating the level of commitment and care for this vital part of our environment – watershed movements are similarly emerging across the country. We bought the Avon River charter to each town council on route and talked with dozens representatives and leaders about river solutions and action on the current rivers crisis.”
Hamish has lived in the valley all his life, spending the last eleven years navigating its waters aboard his boat while founding Middle Ground Growers CIC (MGG), a river-friendly ecological farm created from scratch.
The walk began on 21st April, and Hamish reached the mouth of the Avon on Monday 28th April, carrying with him water from the source pool.
The We Are Avon vision that came from this walk, after witnessing some incredibly clear and beautiful stretches of the Avon before the pollution began to muddy the waters:
“Imagine a river valley that is regenerating and becoming more abundant every year, with cleaner waters, flourishing biodiversity, a wildlife corridor along the entire length of the Avon, nature-friendly farming across the floodplain, and thriving communities protecting and enjoying our river. Imagine a thriving Food and Land Hub for our region, with an active producers’ co-operative reviving local economies and providing healthy, accessible food for all – delivered by last-mile e-cargo bike,”
Supporters are encouraged to donate via the Crowdfunder page before 16th May to secure match funding and help launch the project and set their bold 5 year plan for the region into action.
"Since lockdown, more people have been swimming outdoors and spending time in their local landscapes, and they’re seeing first-hand the impact of the water companies. It’s devastating to witness, and people know it’s not right — they know it has to change."[1] Emilie Joy Rowell, one of the Avon pilgrims who joined from the River Frome tributary.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
We Are Avon is part of a growing place-based movement for regeneration in the UK. It seeks to address the interconnected crises of river pollution, climate change, and food insecurity, led by the people, in the places they care about and depend upon — creating a diverse web of communities, regenerators, farms, and organisations collaborating to restore the land and waters.
Photo credits: Hamish Evans, 2025
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