Extreme weather
Yesterday was a day of extreme weather. All morning the rain absolutely hammered down, water was rushing from out of the field alongside us and into the track.
Water rushed down the track making loud gurgles as it passed over the stones. It scoured the surface so much that there is a layer of stone at the bottom end by the gate.
Though we are lucky as all water is channelled away from the house, we never have to worry about flooding as others do.
It does show just how much plants such as trees and shrubs breakup water movement. The reason for it coming out of the field is because the track is that much lower and the water is channeled down the field along the edge of the bank that the hedge stands on.
It just so happens that the corner it comes through is devoid of bank, trees and shrubs, so it comes through unimpeded.
Yet lower down some of the groundwater finds it’s way from out of the field and runs into the woodland. It goes for several yards until gradually petering out into the trees themselves, sinking into the woodland floor.
Water flooding down the track.
Natural covers of trees and understory plants have the ability to absorb excess rainfall, breaking the harsh movement into controlled absorption.
Taking out too much of this type of cover is already showing the folly in other areas of the country.
We need much more planting of tree cover, not only will it help retain groundwater, but absorb the Carbon dioxide within the atmosphere.
We are coming up to one of the best times for tree planting, the Autumn.
Where can you plant a tree?