Flood protection

Another gloriously sunny morning, with a moderate frost so Pete and I decided to head east to the Nene Washes at Eldernell, to see what birds were about.

The Nene Washes is an area of seasonally flooding wet grassland (washland) lying between the south bank of the River Nene and another bank south of Morton's Leam and stretching for 12 miles from Peterborough to Guyhirn. The washes have local village names, Guyhirn Wash, Whittlesey Wash etc but are collectively known as The Nene Washes. One of the earliest Fenland drains, Morton's Leam, dug in the late 15th century flows in almost a straight line parallel to the current course of the River Nene through the washes.

At times of potential flooding along The Nene Valley water is channelled from The River Nene into Morton's Leam and onto the washes. Water is released from The Washes via a sluice gate near Guyhirn and back into the River Nene at low tide when the threat of flooding the surrounding fenland has subsided.

Today the washes were certainly fulfilling their function. As we drove over the Middle Level Barrier Bank we were greeted by the sight of an intensely blue inland sea, punctuated by lines of golden reed marking the edges of ditches. The depth of the water meant that there weren't many birds, though we did see some distant Bewick's swans. This view is taken looking north across the RSPB reserve, in an area where they've been encouraging reed. In the distance you can just see one of the farms that is protected by this enormous flood reservoir, tucked behind the North level Barrier Bank.

The afternoon was spent doing more gardening, and then Ben, Alex and I went for another walk round Ferry Meadows, which was packed with families and couples making the most of the spring weather. I feel very well exercised this evening!