'Good Morning’ in the Teign Valley'

Come rain or shine the weather in England is always the topic of conversation and daily greetings between strangers, neighbours and friends alike. It almost always creeps in somewhere. We are being constantly told about how global warming is affecting our weather, leading to more extremes in the weather conditions worldwide. But we’ve had extreme weather conditions before; and we’ve coped before. Do you have any records/knowledge of how our forebears survived during such times in the valley? Are there lessons that we could learn from this to make us all more aware of what we need to do to survive and, perhaps, our corporate responsibility to help others and to lobby local government to give particular support to our very local needs?

We are gathering a show of interest from inhabitants in the valley as part of a county wide project being led by the Community Council of Devon. Please download this form to get more information about the project and help us learn from the past. E-mail a copy back to us at: weatherhistory@greener-teign.org.uk It can also be collected from a local post office or shop. We will need to borrow (and return) photographs and stories for placing onto a computer. We will need to record your memories and, if willing video you at a location where you can explain a situation (and maybe a solution).

We all remember the snow of last February, the ice just before Christmas and the snow this New Year. These events were fun for a short time and everyone looked out for their neighbours but what if such conditions continued for some weeks as they have in the past? Despite the wet summer the reservoirs were nearly empty before the autumn rain came. But what if it hadn’t come?

Here are a few photographs from 2009 to remind you and inspire your stories and memories as contributions to the project.

A frozen Tottiford - not safe to walk on though.

Pockets of air trapped under the ice.

Ice with thick broken chunks.

This path was covered to the grass last year making walking a challenge and dangerous.

The weir at Steps Bridge often captures sodden floating trees.

The power of water eroding during even minor downpours.

Serious erosion continues even after maintenance.

Okay this tree wasn't across a road and has since been cut up but...