Walking the Dog

Taken earlier on our walk on Monday, this group were having lots of fun walking (and running and chasing) along the edges of the flood water on Rawcliffe Ings.

This area of rough grassland is now primarily used for pasture for cattle, but in times of high water in the River Ouse the area is deliberatedly flooded to reduce the height of any flooding in York city centre, just over 2.5 miles (4km) downstream from here.

The river is beyond the flood bank in the background of this shot (with two walkers on it, top left). The land behind me rises, and further south has a second flood bank forming a large basin, with a sluice gate at each end. River flow is monitored and when the river level is forecast to be close to its highest, the northern sluice gate is opened and this area flooded, reducing the flow of water towards the city, and estimated to reduce the water level in the city centre by around 6 inches (15cm), which has in the most severe floods prevented city centre defences from being overtopped. As the river level falls, the southern sluice is opened and flood water held here slowly released back into the river.

The water here in this shot is the remains of a flood a few days earlier.

Ian

[Polly]

Water is a great attraction

[Margaret Brown]

A nice wintery capture!

[bkb in the city]

Great capture

[Nina Ganci]

delightful scene, with good lighting and composition.
Great to see the birds in the background having as much fun as the children and dog

[Bill Davidson]

A very nice capture.

[Vesna]

Beautiful light and colours.

[gloria jones]

Great capture

[Judith Johnson]

Lovely to see them enjoying the weather. Great composition

[Renee Salamon]

What a joyful scene

[Joan Robillard]

Nice capture

[Pyrrhula]

Great capture of the water and walking the dog by the kids.

[KWind]

Nice candid!

[Kathy A]

It's great to see children having fun outside

[Wylie]

nice that floods can provide some entertainment and not just chaos.

[Dione Giorgio]

Beautiful scene. Children just love that. Delightful capture and thank you for the story.

[Fisher Family]

@ladypolly @craftymeg @bkbinthecity @ninaganci @billdavidson @vesna0210 @seattlite @busylady @rensala @joansmor @pyrrhula @kwind @kjarn @pusspup @sangwann

Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.

This group were having lots of fun, and it was relatively safe for them as the water was receeding, but it has to be stressed that as the water rises it would not be safe, with the risk of being cut off. When the water is deeper there are also hidden dangers below the surface.

Ian