Somerset flooding: Exhibition marks ten-year anniversary

Image source, Matilda Temperley

Image caption, The River Parrett snaking through the flooded Somerset Levels in January 2014

A photographer's images of serious flooding to hit the Somerset Levels ten years ago can be seen in a new exhibition.

Under the Surface will showcase pictures by Matilda Temperley.

The collection will be on display until 19 May at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury.

A series of newly-commissioned photographs will also be on display, reflecting on changes to the Somerset landscape over the past decade.

Image source, Matilda Temperley

Image caption, The village of Burrowbridge, as seen from the A361, in the floods of January 2014

Image source, Matilda Temperley

Image caption, Somerset suffered extensive flooding in early 2014

"Ten years on from Under the Surface, climate change has meant flooding events around the globe are constantly in our news," said Ms Temperley.

"This latest exhibition reflects on the impact of flooding on the Somerset Levels and successes and failures in flood management over the last decade," she added.

Image source, Matilda Temperley

Image caption, Almost ten years later, in December 2023, cold conditions and heavy rain led to more flooding

Image source, Matilda Temperley

Image caption, Flooding in an orchard in Thorney in December 2023

A programme of events and activities supported by Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) is taking place along alongside the exhibition.

SRA chairman, councillor Mike Stanton, said the group was launched in response to the floods of 2013-14 and people "are still very strongly motivated by what happened then".

"We're supporting this exhibition because the more people understand how Somerset is threatened by flooding, the more we can do together to protect ourselves and to adapt," he added.

Image source, Jason-Bryant

Image caption, Matilda Temperley's exhibition is on show at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury

Image source, Matilda Temperley

Image caption, A caravan in Thorney surrounded by floodwater in December 2023

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