Ruth

This seems a very suitable subject for 11 11.  'Ruth' is a memorial sculpture celebrating the courage and fortitude shown by the women of Bristol during the Second World War.  As thousands of men joined the services, women played a vital role on the home front, running households,  raising families, recycling materials and cultivating food on allotments and gardens.

Throughout the war the co-operation and camaraderie of these women shone through as they faced the daily battle of rationing, cold winters and bombing raids.  The efforts of women played a significant part in the allied forces' eventual victory in 1945.  We will always be grateful to them.

This memorial is on the reserve known as Bennett's Patch and White's Paddock after its benefactors - Timothy Bennett, Peter and Patricia White.  It was used for depositing rubble from the blitz during World War 11 and then became a sports ground, before being turned into a nature reserve by the Avon Wildlife Trust in 2015.  Ruth White was Peter's mother and this sculpture is dedicated to her memory..

Made out of lengths of larch (I think) this wildlife friendly sculpture  incorporates habitats for birds, bats, (see one bat box top right), amphibians and invertebrates to help nature thrive around the city of Bristol.

It cannot be seen from the Portway but nearby can be seen the remains of the whales made out of woven hazel -  one of whom can be seen in the extras