Residents gathered on the banks of the River Stour in Muscliffe, on the afternoon of Sunday March 22, 2026, to take part in a colourful and theatrical ‘World Water Wedding’, pledging their commitment to protect the river from pollution. The ceremony, organised by Extinction Rebellion Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (XR BCP), was held on World Water Day and formed part of Extinction Rebellion UK’s Dirty Water campaign, which has seen similar events taking place at rivers and coastlines across the country.
Participants formed a circle beside the river for a pagan-inspired ceremony celebrating water as the source of life while acknowledging the growing crisis facing the UK’s waterways. During the ceremony, attendees whispered promises and reflections into small stones before casting them into the river, watching the ripples spread across the water as a symbol of their commitment to protect it.
The ceremony also included blessings with river water and words, honouring the River Stour as a living part of the local ecosystem rather than simply a resource.
The event is inspired by Bristol writer and campaigner Meg Avon, who ‘married’ the River Avon in 2023 to raise awareness of river pollution.
Across England, rivers are increasingly affected by sewage discharges and chemical pollution. In 2024 alone, there were an estimated 994,499 sewage discharges into rivers and waterways, averaging almost one every 30 seconds.
As a a customer service professional from Bournemouth and a member of XR BCP, I reflected that the ceremony was intended to highlight the deep connection communities have with their local waterways — and the urgent need to protect them. I said:
“Today’s ceremony was joyful and reflective, but it also carries a serious message. Across Dorset and the UK people are becoming increasingly aware of the scale of sewage pollution in our rivers and seas.
Events like this help remind us that rivers like the Stour are not just infrastructure for waste — they are living ecosystems that sustain wildlife and communities. By ‘marrying’ the river today, we’re making a symbolic promise to stand up for it and to keep speaking out about the sewage crisis affecting our waterways.”
Extinction Rebellion says the World Water Weddings symbolise a lifelong commitment to protect rivers, lakes and seas, while also highlighting growing calls for stronger protections for nature. Campaigners hope the event will inspire more people in Dorset to connect with and defend their local waterways.
About Extinction Rebellion Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Extinction Rebellion Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (XR BCP) was formed in 2019 and is a grassroots environmental campaigning, direct action and pressure group rooted in the communities and landscapes of the BCP area. The group campaigns on local environmental issues affecting residents, including sewage pollution in local waterways, Perenco’s oil drilling activities in Poole Harbour, BCP Council’s use of glyphosate in public spaces, and opposition to the proposed Canford incinerator. XR BCP operates as an autonomous group, independent of XR UK, while remaining aligned with the wider principles of climate and ecological justice, nonviolent direct action, and community-led change. Its work focuses on practical local action, with the belief that local victories can strengthen communities and demonstrate that meaningful alternatives to environmental destruction are both possible and popular.
