Project events

The Lower Severn Community Flood Information Network organised a number of community events in 2005 and 2006.

Key landmark events have been discussion workshops involving participant volunteers, the Lower Severn Community Flood Discussion Forum (which was held in National Science Week on 11th March 2006) and the launch of this web-based resource -The Lower Severn Community Flood Information Network.

Severn Community Flood Forum (March 2006)

The Severn Community Flood Forum took place in Tewkesbury on 11th March 2006 to coincide with National Science Week 2006 and to encourage active involvement of schools and wider community in design and delivery.  It took place in three parallel venues in Tewkesbury on the lower Severn.  A detailed programme for the event was produced as a newspaper with a key emphasis on the flood science/ flood histories and debating the evidence but also with an important input from different organisations on what can be done to mitigate flooding.  The emphasis was on discussion and interaction about flood science, flood events and experiences of flood risk. The programme was designed to engage the general public and included discussions with ‘experts’ about flood science, on the impacts of human activity on flooding and climate change as well as community video and oral history zones, exhibitions and information displays from different groups including schools (see newspaper).  Activities were targeted at different groups – painting activities for school children and oral history sessions ‘ Remembering the floods of 1947’ designed  to engage older as well as younger residents. 

Over 250 participants attended the Forum and students and community members were involved – as helpers, presenters and participants in the different events.  The Environment Agency photographer recorded images of the day (see below for some examples!).  Maria Fletcher from the Australian educational initiative ‘Floods and You’ that is being piloted in Tasmania also observed the day and took feedback back to her project.

Events on the day (Click image's to enlarge)

The full timetable of events is outlined in the Flood Forum’s newspaper.  The photographs (provided courtesy of the Environment Agency) provide some selected highlights.  All the talks were recorded and clips will be posted on the website.

The opening

The Mayor of Tewkesbury Town opens the Forum.

Expert talks

Dr Nick Reynard (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford) sets the context to the discussions about flood risk and climate change.

Oral history

Donald Shuker (engineer; ex-River Severn Catchment Board) shares his 40 years of memories of floods on the River Severn.

Flood Bus

The Flood Bus sets out for a tour of key landmarks relating to flood histories and flood risk in Tewkesbury.  John Dixon (Tewkesbury Historic Society) kindly led the flood tours.

Flood Warning!

The Environment Agency, Lower Severn Area, Tewkesbury answers questions about flood warning.

Mapping past floods:

The Environment Agency, Lower Severn Area, Tewkesbury shares information about its historic flood mapping.

National Flood Forum

Mary Dhonau (Coordinator and Community Groups Director, National Flood Forum) outlines the role of the Forum.

See the Flood Forum News -  (93Kb Adobe PDF) for more details.

Lower Severn Community Flood Information Network Website

The project has involved the design and construction of a website for the Lower Severn Community Flood Information Network.  The website is planned as a community educational resource that will act as an exciting informative and accessible point of reference for the lay public.  It aims to be a conduit for local flood knowledge, flood science and interpretation of flood patterns, an effective teaching and learning tool for knowledge exchange at a variety of educational stages (including school, adult learning and life long learning!).  It aspires to be a recognised model of good practice in communicating local information about flood risk and uncertainty effectively. 

Longer-term public involvement will be developed so securing intellectual ownership of the content and format of the 'Network', as an interactive Web resource that can accessed locally, regionally and beyond.

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