Footprint close shave

The floods that devastated parts of the Lake District and Cumbria this month were a close shave for the Footprint. We had to put up quite a barricade here at St Catherine’s as the beck which runs close by, draining the estate, inundated the vehicle bridge between the car park and the main building. It began seeping into the main office and had to be diverted by some creative engineering but then staff had to put up a second defence as it was looking pretty ominous for the Footprint which sits next door!

An anxious few hours went by and thankfully it did not come to pass but there was some real worry for a while, and over the next few days as the rain continued to fall. It turns out that most of the road track up to St Catherine’s has been washed out and many of the footpaths and walls around the estate are damaged so the Wardens have been very busy with the clear up.

Fell Foot Park on the shores of Windermere didn't fare so well though - it was up to shoulder height in the tearoom, so they have to start from scratch a second year running as it flooded last year too.

For more information on the more widespread floods and the effect on the National Trust in Cumbria follow this link:
Floods