High Court rules Natural England failed to protect Catfield Fen

The short version

• A High Court judge found Natural England failed in its statutory duty to protect Catfield Fen from farm pollution.[The Guardian]
• Tim and Geli Harris, who farm 460 acres in the Norfolk Broads, spent 15 years and £1.5m on the legal fight.[The Guardian]
• Their earlier wins in 2016 and 2022 concerned groundwater use and limits on water abstraction near Norfolk Broads sites.[The Guardian]
• Natural England accepted the verdict but declined to comment on ongoing proceedings, leaving next steps unclear.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• Lady Justice Lieven found that Natural England failed in its statutory duty to protect Catfield Fen from pollution.[The Guardian]
• Tim and Geli Harris farm 460 acres in the Norfolk Broads.[The Guardian]
• The Harrises have spent 15 years and £1.5m of their own money on legal action over the fen.[The Guardian]
• In 2016 the couple won a public inquiry showing excessive groundwater abstraction had caused Catfield Fen to dry out.[The Guardian]
• In 2022 the couple forced the Environment Agency to limit water abstraction close to other nature-rich Norfolk Broads sites.[The Guardian]
• Natural England said it accepted the court's verdict that it had not done enough to protect Catfield Fen.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• ‘You need persistence’: the Norfolk couple who took on environmental regulators three times – and wonThe Guardian - World