In a tranquil stretch of the Conham River Park, a group of dedicated women is championing the cause of river rights and advocacy. As ancient oak trees display their autumn colors, the River Avon flows quietly nearby, just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Bristol.
Despite the chilly 12.5°C waters and the crisp fall air, these women embrace their midday ritual of swimming, insisting that it’s far more than just a pastime—it’s a vital part of their lives. Calling themselves Conham Bathing, this group of women in their twenties and thirties has initiated the Thriving Avon Charter, aiming to elevate awareness around river rights. Their inspiration comes from global movements that have achieved legal personhood for rivers, notably the Whanganui in New Zealand and the Ouse in Lewes, UK.
Their passion for the river is captured in a feature-length documentary titled “Rave On for the Avon.” After a brief preview in the south-west, the film is expected to hit cinemas nationwide by mid-January.
Charlotte Sawyer, the film’s creator, emerges from the river still buzzing with energy, despite her teeth chattering from the cold. “I feel very alive,” she shares. “You can transition from the confines of screens and cars to the raw, real experience of being in the river. In a city like Bristol, where life tends to be residential and busy, this river offers a genuine connection to nature.”
Sawyer notes that she originally considered herself a fair-weather swimmer. However, after filming the passionate campaigners, her perspective shifted, leading her to appreciate the deep love they share for the river. “Initially, I thought I was capturing their environmental activism,” she reflects. “But ultimately, it’s about their relationship with the river—how it nurtures them the same way they nurture it. For many, swimming here signifies a way of life.”
Aggie Nyagari, a 38-year-old filmmaker who collaborated with Sawyer, moved her family closer to the park, drawn by its charm. Hailing from the warmer environment of Kenya, Nyagari admits she hesitated at first about diving into the frigid waters. Yet, she took the plunge one summer, acclimating gradually as winter approached. “It took us a year and a half to find the perfect spot within a 10-minute walk of the park,” she explains. “Now, I live my dream and swim here every morning.”
Since its establishment in 2021, Conham Bathing has been striving for designated bathing water status for the river section in the park. The group actively collects water samples for testing, collaborating with Wessex Water to monitor its quality.
In August 2024, the group faced a setback when they recorded their worst water quality results since beginning their sampling. For two consecutive weeks, bacterial levels were alarmingly high—ranging from six to twenty times above what is considered “poor” under the Environment Agency’s guidelines.
However, despite the concerning data, many Conham Bathing members continue to swim, albeit mostly keeping their heads above water. Becca Blease, 35, a research impact specialist and the group’s founder, emphasizes the importance of community awareness. “There’s an enormous community that loves this river,” she states. “Keeping them informed is crucial because the current ban on swimming isn’t effective and isn’t really enforced.”
Blease adds, “On a hot day, it’s instinctual to want to jump in and cool off. Outdoor swimming is likely to gain even more popularity, regardless of any prohibitions.”
A spokesperson for Wessex Water acknowledged their commitment to promoting recreational use of rivers and emphasized collaboration with Conham Bathing on water quality initiatives, allowing communities to make informed choices. They highlight that while lowland rivers naturally contain bacteria, the Bristol Avon’s contamination primarily stems from urban runoff and agricultural practices, rather than storm overflows, which account for only 3% of the issue.
They are actively investing in improvements, with £3 million spent monthly to upgrade storm overflow systems, including a recent project near Conham River Park designed to manage heavy rainfall.
The Thriving Avon Charter is available for signing, showcasing a collective movement towards safeguarding the rivers that enrich our lives.
