Tag Archives: bad weather

Feb 14 2014

Weather battered Britain

Fallen Tree

Fallen Tree

As many of you will know Britain is presently being battered day after day by storm force winds bringing down trees, coastal areas are seeing giant waves destroying sea defences and continual rain which is seeing huge areas of the country water logged with hundreds of homes flooded.
With little rest bite before the next storm hits emergency services are working flat out with the armed forces being deployed in some areas. Can I just say a big thanks to all those helping everyone effected.
The BBC have been showing images of the flooding and devastation. With a live update site here. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26184648)
Archery Club too are seeing their grounds suffering. With some club shoots are already having to be cancelled due to water logged grounds or access roads. The NFAS website has the latest details on shoots here.  This was the view that created us this morning on our range behind our house.
From the other side - the black plastic covers a target

From the other side – the black plastic covers a target

Across the country clubs are seeing damage to their grounds too.
Artemis (one of our old clubs based in Derbyshire) recently posted images of fallen trees and flooded areas.

Artemis damage

Artemis damage

artemis-02
SVYF have seen numerous branches down and some fallen trees blocking the water courses. Fortunately a few of us had spent time dredging the main water ways a few weeks before or things might have been far worse.

Nearly under water

Nearly under water

Please take care if you are traveling. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to all those families facing an uncertain future.
Thanks for reading.
Jan 5 2014

Wet weather and floods

As some of you maybe aware the UK has been hit over the last few weeks with heavy rain and high winds. Its been not so much white Christmas more wet and windy.

This has resulted in severe flooding in several areas with trees and numerous tree branches down across roads anf railways.

It has had a significant impact on the archery wood too. Numerous branches have come down with a few trees down in neighbouring fields.

As the wood has several overgrown ponds and collects the run off from local fields we are seeing a lot of brown coloured run off water flowing into the wood.

Flooded ponds

Flooded ponds

Several of the bridges that criss cross our woods small streams are nearly submerged. The photo shows one barely above the water.

Nearly under water

Nearly under water

I took this video from the bank behind our club house and normally there is a small stream at both ends of the bridge. As you can see it is hard to see where the stream starts.

More bad weather is forecast in the next few days, so our hopes and best wishes go out to all those families facing an uncertain future.

Thanks for reading.

Dec 11 2012

Winter Shooting

I think I’m more a winter person than a hot weather person. I prefer winter sports like skiing to sitting on a beach slowly turning into a lobster 😉

This means i shoot throughout the year. But it does mean I have to wrap up which can make archery challenging.

winter shooting

winter shooting, yes that is snow on the arrow.

As yet we’ve not had any snow but we have had lots of rain. Many of you will have seen the news footage of flooding effecting large parts of UK. Here is one from one of our old clubs in Derbyshire, the boss is not meant to be under water. In fact there’s not meant to be any water there, the stream running down the side of the course had flooded.

Flooded target

Flooded target

We’ve had a few hard frosts, but so long as we can get to the woods it doesn’t stop us

Sharon shooting in the snow

Sharon shooting in the snow

Good cold weather gear is vital. So I thought I might share my experiences and thoughts.Like when skiing i work on the layering approach. Billy Connolly I think once said on one of his TV shows  “there is no such thing as bad weather just wrong clothing”

  • Base layer of icebreaker Marino wool i have found to be perfect. It keeps you warm when you need to be and doesn’t develop that synthetic feel other base layers do. Sadly they aren’t cheap but well worth it.
  • Disposable hand warmer are useful to carry in a pocket
  • Decent waterproof boots are essential
  • Decent windproof / water proof  breathable gore-tex jacket that you can move and shoot in.
  • Don’t wear jeans. If they get wet, heat will leach out of you as they take an eternity to dry. I use a pair of Craghopper Kiwi lined trousers and when very cold a base layer below.
  • Fleece shirt and body warmer (Ideally windproof).
  • Warm hat and neck scarf or ideally neck buff will keep you warm. One thing I’ve not mentioned are gloves. Flip over mittens work well. These are finger less gloves with a loop of fabric that fits over the fingers so making them into mittens.
  • Snacks energy bars and liquid ideally a warm flask. I tend to have a mug flask with hot fruit cordial on my belt and a flask of spicy soap in car.

Don’t get too hot. may sound strange but if you get too warm and start to sweat you can very easily catch cold and that can lead to hypothermia.  It doesn’t have to be 3 ft snow to catch hypothermia, it can set in at above freezing point as it is based on your body temperature dropping. so please take care.

Last thing is to consider of how you are getting home. I’ve been to a number of shoots where the biggest problem is leaving. Tracks have been churned up by cars or snow has changed to hard packed ice. I carry a towrope, small spade, length of old carpet and jump leads just in case and I’ve used them all at shoots.

There is a layer of compacted snow into sheet ice

There is a layer of compacted snow into sheet ice

I also keep a change of shoes and a few blankets in the car just in case.

So if you have any tips or advice please add them here. As always thanks for reading and Happy Christmas