{"id":4918,"date":"2019-11-20T16:03:49","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T16:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/?p=4918"},"modified":"2019-11-20T16:04:25","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T16:04:25","slug":"flooding-in-south-yorkshire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/20\/flooding-in-south-yorkshire\/","title":{"rendered":"Flooding in South Yorkshire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flooding in South Yorkshire – dramatic images and environmental context<\/h3>\n

We’ve just received a dramatic set of images of the River Don flooding around Fishlake in South Yorkshire. David Woodfall, who took the pictures, has documented flooding in recent years at various sites across England. We asked him to describe the experience of shooting these picture and\u00a0 the impact of floods on the local people. Also, he told us more about the wider environmental questions of water management and climate change.<\/p>\n

How was the experience of viewing the flooding around Fishlake from the air?<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe experience of the flooding from the air was extremely distressing. It immediately made me realise the vulnerability of life and how little it takes for a catastrophe like this to happen. As I took these photographs from the air, Boris Johnson was on the ground talking to local people made homeless. For me, it isn\u2019t about politics – the natural world and our life on this planet are far bigger issues than politics and ought to be given a much greater priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0How difficult was it actually getting images of the flooding in South Yorkshire?<\/h3>\n

\u201cDocumenting chaos is all down to planning and adaptability. Local people made me aware in the local pub about the causes of the flood, where it was and how to reach it safely. I always work through local people. Establishing trust and not expecting too much are key, then striking immediately when the great opportunity comes. In this case I was fortunate to be able to access a helicopter flight in some of the best light I have had over years of documenting similar issues.<\/p>\n

I took aerial photos of the Somerset and Upton-on-Severn floods \u00a0in 2014 and the managed retreat of the Steart Marshes in 2015. On the second day I was there, about 3 inches of rain fell, so I had to wear chest waders. I was made very welcome by local people who admired me going out in difficult conditions. The Haxey Gate Inn kept me fed and watered!\u201d<\/p>\n