Menu

In pictures: Flood zone farms two months on

Johann Tasker 15 April 2014
>More in

The water has receded but it will take months before the Somerset Levels recover from the worst floods in living memory.


Farmers Weekly chief reporter Johann Tasker visited three farms to see how families and businesses are striving to get back on track.


Scroll through the photogallery below to see pictures of the state of the farmland now, with the families pondering where they go from here.


See also: In photos: After the floods – return to West Yeo Farm



Water levels on the River Parrett have dropped dramatically over recent weeks at Burrowbridge.

At the height of the floods, millions of litres of water were being pumped off the Somerset Levels.

Dan Graham and Rebecca Horsington walk across a flood-ruined field of winter wheat.

Drilled last autumn, this winter wheat field will now be re-sown with maize.

Farmers James and Becky Hall say plans to expand their calf rearing business are on hold.

The Environment Agency has yet to remove this earth bund built as a makeshift flood defence.

Water reached chest height in the village of Fordgate, says James Hall.

Field corners remain littered with flood debris – including a shed roof, bee hive and fence posts.

Waterlogged ground remains too soft to graze, with buttercups thriving better than grass.

A tide mark of debris and reeds marks the height of the flood water along this hedge.

This creep feeder lies empty – as does the field, which would normally be home to calves.

Baler twine is among the farm debris left tangled in hedgerows.

A mobile police station keeps watch over the village of Fordgate

Like many residents, moorland farmer James Winslade is now living in a mobile home.

James Winslade and agronomist Stuart Fripp discuss grassland reseeding options.

After two months, the cattle have finally returned to West Yeo Farm, Moorland.

Sheds are being stacked with straw bedding – it will be months before cattle graze outside.

Dredging has started to remove silt from the River Parrett.

Winter storms uprooted these willows trees, which must now be cleared.

Although most of the flood water has gone, patches remain on lower lying land.

See more