About the event

The Hereford City Branch AGM will run from 6:30pm – 7pm

There will then be a break for refreshments from 7 – 7:30pm

Paul Powlesland's presentation will start at 7:30pm and there will be time for a Q&A following this. 

Paul's presentation will focus on the rights of nature, especially our waterways, and what role we can play protecting these precious assets and persuading people of their value. Paul, who lives on a narrowboat on the Roding River, co-founded Lawyers for Nature in 2019 an organisation which advocates to transform the relationship between law and the environment.

Paul made headlines last Spring when he was sent a warning letter threatening prosecution by the Environment Agency for organising a clean-up of an east London river, Aldersbrook, - removing rubbish and sludge from the brook - without a permit. Powlesland said: ‘The section of the river which was cleared is really coming back beautifully, wildlife is returning, yet we are being threatened with prosecution.’ However, after a huge public backlash against the prosecution, the EA dropped this threat.

This November and December, Paul is travelling to Kenya and New Zealand, visiting rivers, forests and mountains that have been awarded their rights, to find out exactly what was done, how it was achieved and the practical differences it has made, with a view to applying these lessons in the UK.