In case this wasn't known by any TW members - I would just like this opportunity to bring to your attention something that I believe is nothing short of a national scandal.
But we might be able to do something about it. If we want to?!
Did you know that in Scotland, should you want to wade or paddle or swim across a watercourse, any such watercourse (with a very few sensible exceptions) - you can. NOW. As long as you do so responsibly.
In England and Wales however, the law is completely different and "wonderfully prohibitive".
Here, if you wish to paddle down a river, or cool your feet in it after a hot walk, you will need permission from the riparian owner - the person who owns the adjoining land (bordering) to the watercourse. This riparian owner also owns the river bed on his/her side of the river. NB. He/she does NOT own the water itself.
There are navigable inland waterways in England and Wales, but they make up only about 3% of all our inland waterways. You'll need a licence for that 3%.
To summarise:
Scotland - go anywhere, responsibly. No licence needed. No permission necessary.
England and Wales - go anywhere as long as its within the 3% of waterways that you have rights to. Get your licence to explore that 3% by the way!
If I want to go out early in the morning in England, silently launch a rubber dinghy into a sleepy backwater, cover mesel in camo netting and responsibly take a shot or two of a grebe or duck on the watercourse, it'd better be in those 3% of waterways or I'm literally breaking the law, no matter if I've licenced my dinghy via British Waterways, The Environment Agency or the both (British canoe Union).
If I wanted to do the same in Scotland, I could do so with no fear whatsoever of breaking any national law.
I would strongly suspect that this discrepancy in the laws has been brought about by English anglers pressurising policy makers.
Please - do not misunderstand me - I have no beef with the majority of anglers - responsible, friendly people who enjoy the countryside and are VERY knowledgeable about their patch!
There are always some morons in any walk of life, who leave rubbish and line, beercans and food wrappers about - but to tar all anglers with that brush would be a mistake.
That said, anglers have been around for hundreds of years (unlike recreational boaters and canoeists for example) and their laws, byelaws and patches are set in stone these days - just the way many like it!
I know for a fact many angling groups are up in arms about any pressure on English Government or Welsh Assembly to "re-open" our inland waterways to all - not JUST anglers. Anglers say that canoeists and walkers disturb their fish.
Utter codswallop of course.
If you (like me) believe that the hidden, beautiful English and Welsh inland waterways should be opened up to all who want to paddle lazily through them, or wade through them, or swim through them, or canoe through them, or photograph wildlife on them - all responsibly of course, as is the case in Scotland, then, please, I urge you to join The BCU's (British Canoe Union's) RIVER ACCESS CAMPAIGN.
Anglers, paddlers, wildlife photographers, people with hot feet! - we can all utilise our wonderful network of watercourses. They should be for the use of all responsible people - just like they are in Scotland.
You know - England can be so incredibly snobby sometimes.
Please do your own research and join the campaign if you feel strongly enough, below.
Many thanks.
TBR
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