THE Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, has backed a Bill requiring the Secretary of State to take the crucial steps for Britain’s chalk streams to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and recognised and guarded as among the many rarest habitats on the planet.
Only about 200 chalk streams are known to exist worldwide, about 85 per cent of that are in England, lots of them within the diocese of Norwich. Chalk streams support more species of plants than every other form of English river, and supply habitat for threatened wildlife, including the water vole, brown trout, southern damselfly, white-clawed crayfish, and Atlantic salmon.
Sewage discharges, agricultural pollution, and climate change are placing increasing pressure on the rivers, nevertheless, a few of which run dry in summertime.
Bishop Usher was recently named the brand new “edie 100” list as one among the 100 most influential sustainability and climate leaders within the UK.
The Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment, and the Anglican Communion’s and lead bishop for biodiversity, he helped to create the Church of England’s Net Zero Carbon 2030 programme, and, as a member of the House of Lords, he scrutinises proposed environmental laws
His support for the the Chalk Streams (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site) Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 25 February, is separate from his work within the Upper House, nevertheless.
He said this week: “People are rightly horrified by the destruction of rainforests hundreds of miles away — but sometimes seem less concerned about collapsing ecosystems almost literally on our doorstep. Christians are called to advocate for God’s creation. In our nature-impoverished land, this implies protecting our heritage of natural wonders, including precious chalk streams.”
In October, Bishop Usher’s amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, to guard chalk streams, was passed by 196 votes to 137 within the House of Lords, but subsequently failed to achieve approval from the House of Commons. Concessions were negotiated with the Government, to be included in future laws.
On his listing within the edie 100 — named after Edie, “a charismatic and devoted tea lady” who worked its publishers, Faversham House — Bishop Usher said: “This recognition is for everybody within the Church of England working to guard the natural world and reverse biodiversity loss. It is a component of our duty as Christians to look after and have fun God’s wonderful creation — and speak up once we see it being harmed.”
Source: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/6-march/news/uk/bishop-of-norwich-supports-bill-to-protect-rare-chalk-streams
