River Severn Tewkesbury - Deerhurst - 6th December 2014
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After a very enjoyable evening with our
folk in the Midlands, we awoke at our comfortable B&B to a bright,
frosty morning. After a generally very mild year, it felt a long time
since we'd had one of these. We headed into Tewkesbury and parked near the Abbey. When we arrived, the sun was on SE side. Here, too was one of the more "junior" river of Tewkesbury, the Swilgate. This flows behind the Abbey into the Mill Avon
near lane we took to the Severn at Lower Lode. Here the Mill Avon joined the
Severn, pub on far side , with a ferry for late night revellers, apparently.
I'd left the Severn in September
perturbed by bore wave rushing up it (Lower Rea, 12th September). Here today it was gentle and reflective. The water level now was relatively low, perturbed only by
the slightest breeze, the odd mallard, moorhen, a couple of swans and the odd boat or two.
We followed the Severn Way along the east side of the river towards Haw, diverting briefly to Deerhurst to see Odda's Chapel.
We followed the Severn Way along the east side of the river towards Haw, diverting briefly to Deerhurst to see Odda's Chapel.
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Shortly after joining the path at Lower Lode, we passed the boat house. Here, on the wall facing the river flood marks painted from the two biggest floods on the Severn in during the past century: 1947 [March] and [July] 2007. I'd forgotten 2007 mark was the higher one of the two - see Note 1 below.These were both exceptional floods. Nonetheless, amid the calm conditions today, it seemed hard to believe that, even during the normal floods which occur in this area roughly annually (eg last winter and spring 2012), that the river that it is capable of rising several metres up and over the banks and filling the floodplain. I got my other half to stand in front of the marks for scale. The boat house stood a good two metres above the river level here now. When we came back through here later, a disembodied voice told people following the Severn Way through here that this was private property, our images being recorded on cctv. Big Brother or what? The usual notices to notices would have sufficed.
As far as I know, no overspills this
autumn-winter, though I was glad I'd worn the new wellies - even if my toes were cold in the frost to begin with - as it was still muddy in places after rain in November. During the morning, it was still fairly frosty, with some of the muddy areas still
frozen. By the middle of the day, most of this had melted, making it muddier.
Worst bit was along the floodbank just south of Deerhurst. Signposts here for Severn Way and Sabrina Way. Sabrina was the Roman
name for the river, otherwise didn't know the difference.
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| Odda's Chapel, Deerhurst |
Colder inside the chapel, not much sun
getting in to it today. A quick sketch in here, but warmer in the sun along the
river sketching the early winter trees. Most of the autumn
leaves are off the trees now, though a few remnants of leafy colour on the hedgerows. Some younger upper branches on the trees growing along the bank had a warm
golden colour with sun on them against the clear blue sky. Some mistletoe with
white berries. Winter oaks. Little blue birds in one of the trees growing on the
slope of the bank.
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| Winter trees along the Severn near Deerhurst |
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Alongside the fence on the north side
of the field where the path headed into Deerhurst, several dip stick gauges at
intervals going down towards the river, four tall masts in the river,
presumably for marking where the usual course of the river in the event of a
flood covering the fields here. An odd sign on the gate, the graphics seemed to
indicate - Don't skew or fry fish here, or carry big flat-pack fish under your
arm.
After a quick look at Odda's Chapel, we carried on down the river towards Haw Bridge, though most attractive stretch
was the first bit between Lower Lode and Deerhurst: the river here more open
with variety of winter trees.Turned round just before the caravan park on the near side.
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Got back to Tewkesbury about half-two and had a quick look round along the Mill Avon between the Abbey Mill and former
flour mill. Alongside the latter, a disorientating illusion of the Avon flowing uphill at the
latter, apparently defying gravity.
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| Abbey Mill, Tewkesbury |
Note 1 - Severn flooding around Tewkesbury - a link here to an interesting website bringing together local memory and blogs.
There is more information here about the 1947 and 2007 floods. Also how, how and again the media put a negative, Terrible Disaster spin on when reporting on flooding and weather events generally (at the time of writing, it's a "weather bomb in northern Britain", 10th December). The 2007 flood was a national emergency and took residents and business affected around Tewkesbury many months to clear up the mess. During more normal, if again unseasonal floods in spring 2012, the media again reached for the photos from 2007 giving a false impression that things were worse than they really are. Rather than carrying as normal, well used to living on a floodplain at the confluence of two major British rivers, people living and working in the area were portrayed as victims under siege. I stand guilty as one of the "outsiders" associating Tewkesbury with flooding probably more than anywhere else in England. Even so, I expect realistic, sensible information in news reports about weather events, rather than sensationalism so that I can get a true picture of what the situation is. Sensationalist, screaming headlines about storms, floods and disaster can frighten vulnerable people and are not fair on local businesses such as hotels and shops who find their bookings / takings down.
There is more information here about the 1947 and 2007 floods. Also how, how and again the media put a negative, Terrible Disaster spin on when reporting on flooding and weather events generally (at the time of writing, it's a "weather bomb in northern Britain", 10th December). The 2007 flood was a national emergency and took residents and business affected around Tewkesbury many months to clear up the mess. During more normal, if again unseasonal floods in spring 2012, the media again reached for the photos from 2007 giving a false impression that things were worse than they really are. Rather than carrying as normal, well used to living on a floodplain at the confluence of two major British rivers, people living and working in the area were portrayed as victims under siege. I stand guilty as one of the "outsiders" associating Tewkesbury with flooding probably more than anywhere else in England. Even so, I expect realistic, sensible information in news reports about weather events, rather than sensationalism so that I can get a true picture of what the situation is. Sensationalist, screaming headlines about storms, floods and disaster can frighten vulnerable people and are not fair on local businesses such as hotels and shops who find their bookings / takings down.
