Most Rivers in England Are Private

Many people in England like rivers. They want to swim in the water. They want to walk near the riverbanks. But they cannot go there. Most riverbanks are private land. People cannot use these areas.

A group studies this big problem. The group is Right to Roam. The group has new facts. Three in four riverbanks are not open. People cannot walk near the water. This is true in many places.

Lewis Winks is a scientist. He works for the group. He speaks about the rivers. The weather is very hot now. People need the water. The water helps people. Winks says: "the vast majority remain off limits."

There is no public path near the water. This is true for many rivers. Ninety-six percent of rivers have no public rights. They cannot swim or paddle there. Landowners do not want people there.

Angela Eagle is the new environment secretary. The campaigners talk to her. They want a new law. They want a right to nature. The government wants nine new walks. But these walks do not help yet.

Kate Rew is a swimmer. She wants living rivers. She says people want to reach the water. She says: "our rivers need people." People can help the rivers. But first they can visit them.

There are different rules in different places. The New Forest has some access. Here, forty-nine percent of riverbanks are not open. But Shropshire is different. Here, ninety percent of the riverbanks are private. People cannot walk there.

Many walking paths have river names. But the paths are not near the water. The Severn Way is a famous path. It is far from the river. It is eight hundred metres from the water. People cannot see the water.

The government wants to help. It wants to build new paths. But today, the public cannot use the riverbanks. People want to swim and walk. They want to enjoy nature. But the land is private.