Since we’ve had the donkeys, twice the water table has risen and flooded the stable. Interestingly all the river surge events, and the storms earlier this year occurred in the second or third week of February. On both occasions I’ve had what I believed to be a solution, but perversely implementing it was not a priority when you have a stable being immersed, two worried donkeys, and a Warren to evacuate if the worst came to, well – the worst.

So this year I’m ahead of myself, and setting up our pump in advance. We had the pump in our previous house in Headbourne Worthy – there’s a clue in the name as “bournes” are usually winter streams that pop up in chalk country (and a few other conditions prevail – Ed.). We used the pump to irrigate the garden from an adjacent stream.

My thought process is to make a sump, a lowest point I which will always be full of flood water when said flooding occurs. Simples…

And a cover to stop the sheep falling in. As they say, I’ll keep you posted.