Flooding around Cambridge

The Cam surging through the sluice at the Mill Pond

Grantchester Meadows (Newnham end) under water

   It feels like a Biblical Flood! Forty days and forty nights it's been raining - at least. I've never seen it so wet: this part of the country is usually very dry, and it is rare to get wet riding a bike round town (which we do every day). But this month has been different. Even Mariam has worn a raincoat to school and that's unheard of.

The river is really high and flowing very fast  - but that does happen regularly after heavy rain.

What is more unusual is the flooding on the Meadows. The river burst it's banks and flooded most of the lower lying fields on the path to Grantchester, as well as the fen just on the edge of town by the Mill Pond. We forget that they are not just there for our pleasure and so we can admire the cow parsley in flower. These fields and green spaces are also there as a flood plain. A hundred years ago, the fields flooding was a common occurrence which made 'fen skating' possible in freezing weather. 

High water near Byron's Pool

There was a flock of over 40 pink footed geese on the flooded meadows, dabbling happily in the muddy grass. Up at Byron's Pool the weir was under water, and the river had risen to cover many of the new wooden platforms and steps built recently for the reserve.

Coe Fen under water (doing its job as a flood plain)

Rare ray of light on the river at 'Dead man's corner'