The Wash Fields
A Research Journey
Dawn Boon
Agnes Babet
Ciaran
Debi
Elin
Fergus Gerrit Henk Isha
Jocelyn
Experimentation
The drone experiments grew out of lack of access to the fen nature reserves due to the bad weather.
Hanging on to my initial plans of exploring the regeneration of the Great Fen, I started to learn to fly the drone.
These shots are from Holme Fen a place of Special Scientific Interest. One of the original pieces of fen landscape that still exists.
When stood amongst the Silver birch trees it feels large and unending.
Once above them you can see how small this piece of fen land is. The purchase of Speechley’s farm will join Holme Fen and Woodwalton fen, creating the Great Fen.
Agnes
27 - 28th September 2023
Gusts of wind over 58mph
Heavy rainfall
Power outages
Trees felled
Babet
18 - 21st October 2023
Severe and widespread disruption
Eastern England recorded more than twice the October whole month average of rainfall in the first three weeks of the month.
Weather stations in England recorded their wettest October on record
46.8mm in Lincolnshire
The Wash Fields
The research journey
The project concept was exploring visually the restoration of the Great Fen. The unprecedented wet weather this winter forced the project to take a very different route.
The first photographs made were in Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen, exploring the landscape visually as the winter weather set in and the land became saturated from the heavy rains of the storms.
With the first winter storms came flooding to the fens, this closed Woodwalton fen where I had intended the project to be based.
These are some of the first explorative images before the project changed course dramatically.
Ciaran
1st - 2nd November 2023
Half of the November whole month average rainfall arrives in first three days of the month.
Major transport disruption, flights and rail cancelled.
100’s of schools nationwide closed.
150,000 homes without power. Exceptionally sever storm for time of year
Debi
13th November 2023
Road, rail and air closures
50 flights from London Heathrow cancelled.
Fallen trees close roads.
Large waves battered the coast.
30-50mm of rain falls across the UK
Elin
9th December 2023
Strong wind and heavy rain
Localised impact on already saturated land.
Numerous flood warnings
As the weather set in and storms arrived, flooding became widespread. Access to the fens became impossible. I resorted to learning to fly a drone so that I could capture the landscape from above.
The following images are shot across the open fens as winter settled in and the water rose.
Fergus
10th December 2023
Elin and Fergus arrived in quick succession
Strong wind and heavy rain
Localised impacts on already saturated land.
Numerous flood warnings
On going risk of ground water flooding
Gerrit
27-28th December 2023
Winds of over 70mph in some areas
Heavy rain and increased flooding
Unsettled weather for the whole of December
Henk
2nd January 2024
Gusting winds and heavy rain
Severe transport disruption due to flooding, 300 flood warnings in place.
Planes unable to land at Heathrow Airport
UK and near continent entirely obscured by cloud from storm Henk
The storms came relentlessly throughout this winter. This forced an end to my original project. The water that was now flooding the land all around, the wash fields were full, roads were closed and access to the land limited. As a reaction to the weather I decided to focus on the flooding across the wash fields and the landscape around me. Whittlesey wash fields have their own unique beauty when they are in flood (also a Site of Scientific Interest).
I used the drone as well as a camera to start exploring the flooding in this what is a very local environment. I grew curious about the amount of flooding over such a prolonged period.
Whilst it usually floods and is part of a flood defence system I wondered how the increasing number of serious storms this year, would impact life and the infrastructure.
I became interested in what local people thought about this impact locally and globally. Were they concerned about this winter’s storms? Was it linked to climate change ?
I documented the ever expanding flood waters, watching as they receded briefly and came again with the next storm.
Isha
21st January 2024
Red and amber warnings over half the UK.
Motorways and ferries closed
One of the 20 most powerful winter storms to hit the UK since year 2000.
The storms continued to come leaving more rising water on the land.
The wash fields have a serene beauty to them despite the cause and their purpose.
I began shooting with the drone at different times of day experimentally. Strong winds and pouring rain meant that it wasn’t always possible to fly safely and we were grounded.
I shot the next series experimenting with the drone as the sun was going down, I shot over the fields and what was once the road had all but disappeared.
After the floods receded very briefly, the next storm arrived and the water levels rose across the wash fields once more.
Roads were closed and access to the locations were more difficult. I shot around the wash fields from strategic view points including Stanground sluice gates and up to the Dog and Doublet sluice gates.
The Thorney Road, B1040, was underwater cutting off Whittlesey from Thorney, until the flood waters left again.
This continued all winter.
Jocelyn
23rd, 24th January 2024
Windy and wet
Less severe than the previous 9 storms Hampering clear up from previous storms
As of the 12th March 2024 there were 60 flood warnings for Whittlesey this winter.
The same amount as for the previous three years.
The Wash Fields
By Dawn BoonContact: dawnboon@sky.com