Woman who ‘married’ River Avon continues clean water campaign

A woman who “married” the River Avon as part of a campaign for clean water, has said she hopes the relationship remains “sustainable”.

Megan Ruth-Trump took part in the ceremony in Bristol in 2023 to raise awareness of untreated sewage being pumped into waterways.

She said the marriage had inspired her to write poetry and use creativity to make people more passionate about keeping the river clean.

“The wedding inspired me to quit my job and focus on campaigning and writing,” Ms Ruth-Trump said.

She added: “Our relationship is going well. It’s been an interesting marriage. I hope the relationship remains sustainable.”

Ms Ruth-Trump’s wedding was inspired by the campaign for clean water in the River Avon, which is organised by Conham Bathing.

She said she wanted the river to be treated like a person and put herself forward as a guardian of it.

Ms Ruth-Trump said she feels a “spiritual connection” to the river when she swims in it.

“It’s the closest thing to religion I have,” she said.

“It makes me feel brand new when I swim, it changes my state of being. It makes me excited, like any good relationship.”

Ms Ruth-Trump said she believes in creative forms of activism and recently released a book of poetry inspired by the river.

“I will continue to raise awareness with my poetry in a beautiful way, hopefully it will move people,” she said.

“I’m using it to campaign by getting people excited and passionate.”

She will tour her book of poems alongside the campaign film Rave On for the Avon and will be in Bristol on 12 March and 25 May.