The Levee has Broken

Although we have had a couple of days without rain, the hills were The Trent rises are still saturated, and the run off has still continued to cause the river in town to rise further. And rather inevitably this has led to our cricket ground getting flooded again.

The message came through this afternoon that help was needed at the ground to move equipment and other material into a safe location as apparently the water was rising fast. So, I biked down, noticing that in town the river was over its banks at the barge pub, and a few inches of going over into Riverside Park.

The flood defence rises about two metres next to the ground, which is on the far side of it, and when I crossed it, I realised that a boat was needed to get me to the pavilion. The lane was blocked by about 20cm of water, the ground was completely underwater, and the water was about to enter the pavilion.

Without wellies or waders, which I don't have, I was completely hopeless. Luckily our groundsman, made of much tougher material than I, was already down there surreally driving tractor mowers through the water and up onto the top of the defences in trackies and a pair of trainers. Another stalwart with wellies arrived to help, and I decided the only thing I could do was keep on eye on the mowers until they finished in the pavilion.

I suppose it is better it happens at this time of year than in Spring, although our club fireworks display and bonfire look like they might be needed to be held on a raft.

If I went to music festivals I would have had wellies I suppose.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.10.19