River Severn. 8 February, 2014

With the amount of rain we have had over the past week, I thought it would be prudent and not to walk anywhere, but to drive to the known flood areas of the River Severn and take some photos.

And sure enough when I arrived at my first destination, Hampton Loade, it was massively in flood.  The water was up to the entrance of the car park and was all over the fields right up to the water works.  I could see the Hampton Loade ferry securely tethered on the opposite bank, but all the old ferry gearing on my side was covered with water.  The only things that seemed to be enjoying it all was a pair of mallards feeding on the waters edge where the car park should have been!

View towards the water works

View from the car park entrance

Hampton Loade ferry

The old ferry gear workings and depth guage

Pair of mallards

I moved on and as I drove through Quatford and Danesford I could see all the fields on my left were flooded.  Some of the park homes at Quatford looked to be getting close to flooding.  As I drove over the bridge at Bridgnorth, the water level was very high; some cars were stopping on the bridge to have a look at the river and holding up the traffic. I thought about trying to park on the other side of the bridge to take some shots, but I couldn't find a parking space in the few spaces available and quickly drove on with my next place in mind, Hay Corner.

It always foods at Hay Corner and usually pulls in geese and swans.  Bewick's and whooper swans have been seen there in past years along with the occasional rare goose.  But this time all I could see was a flock of lesser black-backed gulls loafing on the waters edge.

Hay Corner

I was on my way home, but as I drove past the turning to Astbury the waterfall there came to mind. So I turned around and drove down the narrow road to it.  I couldn't believe the amount of water cascading down and the colour of it - brown.

Waterfall at Astbury

Waterfall at Astbury

Waterfall at Astbury

Looking down river.