‘You need persistence’: the Norfolk couple who took on environmental regulators three times – and won
Summary
A Norfolk couple, Tim and Geli Harris, won three important legal cases against government regulators for failing to stop pollution harming Catfield Fen, an internationally protected wetland. The high court ruled that Natural England did not properly protect the fen from harmful nitrates and phosphates washing in from nearby farmland.Key Facts
- Tim and Geli Harris own a 460-acre farm next to Catfield Fen, a special wetland habitat in Norfolk, England.
- The fen is home to around 2,500 species, including rare orchids, ferns, bittern birds, and swallowtail butterflies.
- Natural England, a government conservation agency, was found to have failed its legal duty to protect the fen from pollution since at least 2021.
- Pollution from farming activities caused damaging nitrates and phosphates to enter the wetland waters.
- The Harrises have spent 15 years and £1.5 million of their own money fighting to hold regulators accountable.
- The court’s decision criticized Natural England for being slow and inactive despite clear evidence of harm.
- The couple converted their farm’s arable land to pasture to reduce pollution runoff and maintain the natural environment.
- The Harrises maintain a working relationship with Natural England but have taken legal action to push for stronger protection.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
