On a very hot summer’s day, a group of five  Soroptimists and two Soroptimisters joined a 2-hour tour of Watercress Farm at Wraxall, near Bristol, organised by Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART).   The visit was part of our Club’s environment project.  We were accompanied on the tour by four members of BART and expertly guided by Gil from the Belmont Estate. Gil supplied us with an incredible amount of detailed information about the history of the creation of Watercress Farm, its current development work and future plans for the site. Watercress Farm is part of the Belmont Estate and it is a rewilding project. The site includes rough pasture, formerly arable fields, woodland and a small river. There is a resident population of Yellowhammers and Kingfisher with Spring migrants and other passage birds. Whilst there we enjoyed the sight of a Hobby hovering above

As part of Soroptimist Bristol’s long-term project to raise awareness of and address the issue of pollution of water and how water quality can be improved four Soroptimists from SI Bristol registered to take part in the annual River Blitz project organised by Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART). This year River Blitz covered the period 5th to 14th July and we joined many other Citizen Scientists in enabling BART to assess water quality in the BART catchment area. Having received our testing kits and equipped with wellington boots and rain coats we set off in three groups to visit locations in Coombe Dingle (River Trym and Hazel Brook) and on the River Avon in Bristol (at Cannon Bridge, Gaol Ferry Bridge and the Bridge near the Create Centre). Water was collected in test tubes and then tested by dipping dip sticks. Samples were measured against

Soroptimist Bristol had a great morning at our Orange Café on June 25th, which is the UN’s designated day to combat Violence Against Women.  The seven Soroptimists attending were joined by a visitor who came specially as she wanted to find out more about our Club’s work and what we do to raise awareness about violence against women.  We talked and distributed leaflets to other ladies at tables near ours, explaining why we were all wearing the colour orange.  It was great to have Susan W join us for this morning’s session.

  On Tuesday 18th June 2024, six Bristol Soroptimists paid a third visit to Wessex Water as part of our aim to learn more about drinking water and sewage treatment in our area.   We had previously visited Wessex sewage treatment centres in Weston-super-Mare and Bristol.   This time we went to the Ashford Education Centre at Cannington, near Bridgwater, home to the Ashford Reservoir, constructed in 1934 which, along with the Hawkridge reservoir in the Quantocks are fed by local streams and provide water to the on-site treatment works built in 1879. Sue Goodland, Education Adviser expertly and informatively, guided us round the reservoir and told us about the abundant flora and fauna to which it is home – including swans and 3 cygnets.   She then took us round the treatment centre and explained stages in the purification of water to make it fit for drinking,

  As part of SIGBI’s 2024 initiative to raise awareness of International Women’s Day (8th March), members from SI Bristol gathered in front of City Hall, College Green, Bristol.     We wore blue which is one of SIGBI’s brand colours and made heart signs with our hands – the 2024 theme representing ‘Inspire Inclusion’. We were honoured to be joined by Bristol’s Lord Lieutenant Peaches Golding who is an Honorary Member of SI Bristol.

This December, members from SI Bristol Liz N and Marion and other members of the Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal Committee had two successful fundraising events. One was a Carol Concert in St George’s Hall, where we collected the amazing sum of £1051. Those present at the Concert enjoyed listening to several choirs, a brass band and also singing favourite Christmas Carols. A few days later, accompanying Santa’s sleigh from the Water Tower on the Downs, along Whiteladies Road, Park Street and Broadmead to Cabot Circus, we collected £650. Santa and the Lord Mayor (Councillor Paul Goggin) rode in the sleigh, which stopped frequently to allow passersby to take photographs and make a donation. With carols blaring, it was impossible to ignore the sleigh!

  To mark the start of #16Days of activism and the United Nations’ UNiTE campaign to #OrangeTheWorld, SI Bristol members Ruth and Ivete delivered 29 orange bags of essential toiletries and treats to be given out to survivors as they arrive at Next Link Domestic Abuse Services in Bristol. The majority of survivors flee without possessions, over the last few months our members collected these items to support them. The reality is that women and children will often arrive at Next Link with no personal belongings. This is because they may see a fleeting chance to leave their abusive situation, and they take it, without having a chance to pack anything. For women leaving a domestic abuse situation, packing their children’s favourite comforters, toys, clothing and toiletries – let alone a Christmas gift – is often the last thing on their minds. Soroptimist Bristol will

      Each wearing orange, six members of SI Bristol caught the train to Weston-super- Mare.   On the journey from Worle Councillor Wendy Griggs, Chairman of North Somerset Council, spotted our banners and introduced herself. She remained with us until we joined the rest of the Soroptimists and others outside the station. Where she met up with the Mayor of Weston super Mare for the March. We marched through the shopping area, handing out bookmarks, to Grove Park where we tied ribbons on the railings round the pond. Each of the 110 ribbons represented a death from domestic violence over a year. Other Soroptimists joined us there and there were seven from SI Bristol in total. From there we gathered at the bandstand for speeches about domestic violence and the importance of eliminating it. Two statistics stand out: only one quarter of instances