Groundwater Rising

Claude Nsobya undertook groundbreaking research into the links between community and resilience... with the added dimension of being able to compare data from two countries - Uganda and the UK.

Claude was inspired to pursue his research by family experiences of drought in rural communities in Uganda and has continued his academic journey in the UK, culminating in his PhD research, which he talks about in detail in the episode. There are fascinating insights here for both groundwater flooding and flood management in general, including:

Why existing context in communities (like existing resilience) is vital to understand

Lessons learnt from comparing Uganda and the UK

How community engagement from outside agencies (like government projects) need to be carefully thought through

How variety in local geography (physical and human) affects both community and resilience hugely

Where Claude thinks policy - particularly in the UK - could be improved

Why groundwater flooding presents particular resilience and community challenges

How simple achievable and low-cost actions can make a huge difference in community resilience

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?
Email groundwaterrising@projectgroundwater.co.uk
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Adrian Porter joins host Helen to tell the story of hie remarkable journey from being groundwater flooded with devastating effects... to becoming a local flood warden... and eventually re-training to become a water and environment expert... and then getting a role researching and preserving chalk streams.

In the first part of this episode we get to hear the dramatic story of how Adrian's own house succumbed to groundwater flooding - he tells the story extremely effectively... this is a very valuable and insightful description of what it is actually like to be groundwater flooded. 

In the second half of the episode we hear about how Adrian has harnessed this negative experience in a positive way. He shares vital tips and advice for anyone else affected by groundwater flooding on options to protect their home... and then goes on to explain how communities can become more resilient and help each other. 

Finally, we hear more about how Adrian now works with chalk streams and his thoughts on how we can make progress on better understanding groundwater and why he believes we need to take the approach of working with nature... not trying to control it.

 

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?
Email groundwaterrising@projectgroundwater.co.uk
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Winterbournes are a type of temporary river that only flow above ground at certain times of year. They are very important in understanding how groundwater works, as well as chalk aquifers. Observing the flora and fauna they support is vital, because it gives clues to a whole variety of environmental patterns, including the effects of pollution, urbanisation and what may happen with climate change.

In this episode, host Helen interviews Patrycja Meadows (Pan Area Senior Ecologist at Environment Agency) to get the theory on winterbournes... and then visits one with Patrycja and her team as they undertake sampling. On a lovely spring day with the river flowing fast and the lambs bleating in the background, this is an evocative and insightful episode captured at the perfect time of year to explore winterbournes.

Patrycja talks passionately about the role of citizen science, and you can find out more about how to get involved via these pages of the Enivronment Agency website.

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?
Email groundwaterrising@projectgroundwater.co.uk
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Rhiannon Marchi-Smith is an independent hydrogeologist specialising in groundwater, mine water, and subsurface risk management. Her work focuses on connecting science, policy, and decision-making regarding underground water resources.

Rhiannon has learnt through experience what works when trying to communicate complex science to communities affected by groundwater flooding. She has hard-earned lessons to share in terms of turning evidence into action that makes a difference.

In this episode, Rhiannon and host Helen discuss topics including:

The lessons that working with mining communities taught Rhiannon about communication between organisations and local people

Why significant budget and time should be allocated to engaging with the community, particularly before a project starts

How mining has left some parts of the country with a permanently changed groundwater context

Why Rhiannon thinks narrative story-telling concepts can massively improve the impact of technical reports

This is an essential listen to anyone currently involved in a community-based project. The insights and advice in this episode could help you out a lot.

 

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?
Email groundwaterrising@projectgroundwater.co.uk
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Hazel Cottle is an occupational therapist and mother whose innovative idea, Puddle Parks, reimagines how families engage with the outdoors—especially on rainy days. Her work centres on harnessing the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outside, even in wet weather, inspired by both her clinical experience and her belief in the power of nature to spark joy and connection.
In this episode (new host Helen's first) Hazel joins Helen to introduce the concept of Puddle Parks and to talk about the wider issues of understanding how rain, water, environment, community and climate are linked. Could innovative ideas like Puddle Parks help people understand - from an early age - rainfall patterns, how water and ground interact, as well as help communities adapt to changing weather linked to climate change
Hazel introduced PuddleParks through her TED and TEDxBrighton talk (which you can watch here), highlighting how purpose‑designed outdoor spaces can turn rain into an invitation rather than a barrier. These playful environments use rain‑activated features such as light, sound and water‑driven movement to encourage accessible and inclusive community, curiosity, and adventure for children and adults alike.

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?
Email groundwaterrising@projectgroundwater.co.uk
To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk
Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising