Another different sort of street...

The morning was mild and grey with a strong southerly wind. Trying to think of somewhere dry to walk, we headed out to the cycleway along the north bank of the Nene Washes, having to ignore several 'Road Closed' signs to get to our parking place, which was just before the road was flooded. The open fens may not have been the best choice of venue, as it was quite difficult walking along, being buffeted by the gusty gale.

Before we set off on our walk, we climbed up onto the Millennium Bridge to get a good view of the flooding, which extends pretty much as far as the eye can see. The Nene Washes were designed to accomodate floodwater, and this winter they have been at least partially flooded from mid-October. Water flows onto them from Moreton's Leam, a channel on the southern side. The River Nene runs along the north side, and at this point there is a road running parallel to it, visible on the left of the photograph, which is partially flooded.

The sheep in the picture (and a few cattle which are out of view) normally graze the field to the right, which are now deeply under water. They've been moved onto the Cradge Bank, but are having to be fed with hay, which is expensive for the landowner. The chicken house looks very precarious, with the floodwater lapping round its base.

I feel extremely sorry for those people struggling to live in the house-boats. This year must have been a nightmare. They've all constructed temporary bridges which give access to dry land, and they've obviously had to move wood and other items above the flood level. The garden table and clothes line look particularly incongruous, surrounded by floodwater, but at least the owners of the black house boat are trying to maintain some Christmas spirit, with a rather tattered tinsel-garlanded Christmas tree tied to the top of their boat.

I've elected to base my one street photographs on the streets running north and south of Cathedral Square,which meet the River Nene at the southern end. I feel I'd like to do a subsidiary set of 'one street' photographs based on the river. This historically significant waterway is used by a number of permanent and itinerant house-boat owners, and is, of course, a very important wildlife thoroughfare. I tend to walk there several times a week, and will add shots with some human interest to the one street project. I could include images of the wildlife too, but this may stretch the bounds of what is appropriate! What do you think?