Very recently we’ve had heatwaves and not long ago it was flooding. Weather extremes that are becoming ever more common, so how can the Marlborough community become more resilient to such potentially damaging events? At the Town Hall, on Saturday 18 July there is an exhibition – ‘Waters of Change – Marlborough’s Journey Towards Resilience‘ which will showcase the science and the efforts of the community towards being able to deal with such events.
Flooding – we can all remember what happened just over two years ago. But also heatwaves and drought. High temperatures are probably far more dangerous to the community, particularly the elderly or infirm than too much rain. And over recent years, particularly this year the heat has been intense, more regularly and looks like for longer periods. Whilst we experienced a long period of wet weather – hardly a day across last Autumn / Winter when it didn’t rain, we are now, barely a few months later being threatened with a hosepipe ban. OK, we could ‘look’ at Thames Water, but that’s a different and separate issue for discussion.
‘Waters of Change’ centres on our River Kennet. It is there thanks to a group of local people and UWE Bristol (University of the West of England) and it focuses on resilience. It brings together the efforts of the Town Council, ARK Kennet, Wiltshire Council, the Environment Agency, local farmers, businesses and residents who have been invited to become involved.
At the core of the event is Erika Peklanska, Postgraduate Researcher at UWE who explains what the showcase is, and how it can give us understanding regarding what is happening. Erika tells Marlborough.news: “Through interactive displays and activities, visitors will be able to explore local experiences of floods and droughts, discover some of the science in accessible ways, reflect on their own relationship with the River Kennet, and imagine possible futures through storytelling and creative activities. Rather than simply presenting information, we want people to take part, share their own experiences, and leave feeling inspired to take small actions that can help care for the river and strengthen local resilience.”
Erika is keen to stress that whilst there may be many angles that this wide subject area could embrace, it’s about us, the community: “At a time when so much news about the environment can feel overwhelming, this project shows that people are not powerless. It reminds us that communities have agency, that they can shape their own future, become advocates for the places they care about, and inspire positive change. It offers a positive example of what can happen when science, creativity, and community come together. Above all, it is a story of hope, one that reminds us that positive change begins with people coming together to imagine and shape a better future.
‘Waters of Change’ – (downstairs) at The Town Hall, Saturday 18 July between 13:00 and 15:00
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