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Spirit of the river Avon comes to life
The team behind the heartfelt campaign to clean up the river Avon has launched its next phase.
The Conham Bathing group caught widespread attention with a ceremonial marrying of the river and ‘honeymoon’ pilgrimage to its source which was captured in the critically acclaimed film, Rave on for the Avon.
In typically creative style, they are now building a giant puppet designed to embody the spirit of the river and give it – or her – a voice.
They are inviting community contributions to their fundraiser and in helping to build the puppet in a series of workshops at the Puppet Place by Bristol Marina.
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Avona has been designed to be both beautiful and wrathful, symbolising the Avon’s spirit as well as representing the need to recognise and respect the rights of the river.
“This puppet will raise awareness of water pollution, engage our community and become a voice of change for the river,” the female-led art collective said.
The puppet will appear in a procession at Green Man festival, over August 14-17, alongside a puppet representing the Goddess of the Wye created by Kim Kaos.
And Mrs Meg Avon, the Conham Bathing member who became the UK’s first river bride when she married the river in a ceremony on August 26 last year, will be hosting an evening of poetry and conversation at the People’s Republic of Stoke’s Croft on September 8.
The Goddess of the Wye puppet appeared at a screening of Rave on for the Avon last year – photo: Charley Williams
The latest campaign phase is part of a movement to recognise the legal rights of rivers which has been gaining momentum in the UK.
Citizen guardians of the river Wye have seen some success in their efforts to clean up the river which has been called “the poster child for river sickness, as well as civic resistance” by author Robert Macfarlane, himself a campaigner for the recognition of water courses as living beings with rights that require legal protection.
Conham Bathing will continue their campaign with an art exhibition, panel discussion and a film screening at Bristol Aquarium on World Rivers Day on September 28.
They are also working on the co-creation of a Thriving Avon Charter which outlines the rights of the river in line with similar charters that have been produced for the Ouse in Lewes and the Dart in Dartington.
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Serious pollution incidents increased by 60 per cent in England last year, with 85 per cent of rivers classified as below good ecological status including the Avon which was named the third worst in the country.
But campaigners are feeling hopeful after “the most comprehensive review of the water sector since privatisation” was published at the end of July and the civic movements for swimmable cities and legal rights for nature are building.
An artist’s interpretation of the final Avon goddess/demon puppet – credit: the Avonas
Help to bring Avona to life by contributing to the crowdfunder and joining the community crafting workshops on August 8 and 11.
Main image: The Avonas
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