Cornish Village Endures 41 Days of Rain: 'I'm Thinking of Building an Ark'
In the picturesque parish of Cardinham, nestled on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, residents have faced an extraordinary meteorological challenge. The community has now endured forty-one consecutive days of rainfall, with no sign of a sustained break in the weather. This relentless downpour has transformed daily life, prompting one local artist and cafe owner to quip about constructing an ark to cope with the deluge.
A Record-Breaking Deluge
The Met Office confirmed this week that Cardinham is one of only three locations across the United Kingdom to have recorded rain every single day so far this year. The other affected areas are North Wyke in Devon and Astwood Bank in Worcestershire. However, Cardinham distinguishes itself by the sheer volume of precipitation, having received a staggering 366 millimetres of rain during this period. Cornwall itself has registered its wettest January on record, compounding the challenges for residents.
For locals, checking the weather forecast has become somewhat redundant. "You know it's going to be rain," remarked Sarah Cowen, a local artist and cafe owner, who described the conditions as horrendous. "We've never known anything like it. The mud, the silt, the endless rain." Cowen attributes the extreme weather patterns to global warming, noting a shift towards either baking sun or continuous rain.
Daily Life Disrupted
The impact on the community is multifaceted and profound. Loveday Sutton, a prominent member of the Cardinham garden club, expressed a growing sense of despondency among residents. "We don't get cold, bright days any more. It's relentless rain. People can't get out to do their gardens. Mine is sodden, that's the only word for it," she lamented.
Infrastructure has also suffered. One of the main roads leading into the village of Cardinham has been forced to close. The immense volume of water coursing through the area has caused the road surface to buckle and break, creating hazardous conditions and disrupting travel.
Local farmer Nick Hoskin has been compelled to keep his herd of south Devon cross cows confined to barns or the farmyard. With four decades of farming experience, Hoskin stated unequivocally, "This is the worst weather we've had." Even the livestock, he observed, seem to prefer the shelter to the waterlogged fields.
Community Resilience and Adaptation
Despite the adversity, a spirit of resilience pervades the community. At the Forestry Commission's Cardinham Woods, off-duty firefighters Adam Harvey and Sandy Gourley were spotted cheerfully completing the muddy 'Beast of Bodmin' mountain bike trail. Gourley emphasised the importance of outdoor activity for mental health, even in poor conditions, though he admitted "one dry day would be nice."
Practical adaptations are evident in everyday choices. Conversations frequently turn to the merits of different waterproof coats. Jenny Cockerill, who works at a forest school, opted for a trendy Patagonia jacket, while her colleague Claire Edwards wore a sturdier, unbranded coat from a farming supplies shop. Edwards noted the trade-off: "It's dry but doesn't breathe. I do get a bit warm going up hill."
Sam Lebbern, the recreation manager at Cardinham Woods, acknowledged the constant need to monitor forecasts but stressed a determined attitude. "But you have to get on with it – keep smiling. There's a sense of camaraderie in the face of adversity and Cornish people are resilient," he said.
Economic and Business Impacts
The economic repercussions of the prolonged wet spell are significant. At Bodmin airfield, where the Met Office weather station has recorded the relentless precipitation, manager Ian Bryant reported a drastic reduction in air traffic. Typically, the airfield might see up to fifty small planes take off on a busy day. Since the new year, only about twenty flights have been possible due to the persistently poor conditions.
Bryant, known by his Royal Navy nickname 'Arfur', offered a contrasting view on the cause of the weather. He dismissed the concept of global warming, describing climate change as a "hobgoblin" used to frighten people, insisting instead that "this is just a wet winter. We've had wet winters before."
Local businesses are feeling the strain. Ed Salatas, who began running the AeroDine cafe at the airfield clubhouse in September, experienced two promising months before the weather turned. "Then came snow, now the rain," he said. Salatas has used the quiet period to refurbish the cafe but now anxiously awaits a break in the weather to welcome customers back.
A Brief Respite on the Horizon?
The Met Office currently predicts a potential end to the record-breaking run of rain this Saturday, with forecasts suggesting bright, warm sunshine. However, this respite may be fleeting, as more rainfall is expected to return on Sunday. For residents like Marion Robertson, who was walking her black Labrador, Indie, under a multicoloured umbrella, perspective is key. Living on a hill, she considers herself fortunate compared to those facing flooding. "The rain is tedious, but you have to make the best of it," she remarked, encapsulating the stoic attitude of a community weathering an unprecedented storm.
