Despite the falling leaves and temperature, a group of women tentatively step into the 12.5C waters of the Conham River Park in the east of the city for a midday swim - a ritual they all insist is not just a hobby but a way of life.
Conham Bathing, an advocacy group made up of women in their 20s and 30s, has launched the Thriving Avon Charter in a move to raise the profile of rights for rivers.
The move is inspired by campaigners worldwide who have secured legal personhood or "rights of nature" for rivers such as the Whanganui in New Zealand, and in the UK with the Ouse in Lewes and the Dart in Dartmoor.
The group's love for the river and fight for bathing water quality status has been captured in a documentary, Rave On for the Avon, which after a preview run in the south-west may have a national cinema release mid-January.
This story is from the October 28, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the October 28, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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