Port Meadow cattle brave the floods

After days hemmed in at the south end of Port Meadow by the floods, the cattle and horses needed food. They gathered nervously at the brim before plunging in, then followed the river to Wolvercote

Cattle stranded on Port Meadow

The cattle had tried to move to the north end of Port Meadow but were defeated by the floods. It was several days before they could get up to Wolvercote

Trap Grounds Allotments gate in floods

Most of the allotments at the Trap Grounds were under water - scenic for a photographer, heart-breaking for those who had slaved to bring them to the height of the growing season.

The gate onto flooded Port Meadow

The water just beyond the gate comes over my wellingtons. This is the bottom of the Aristotle Lane entrance to Port Meadow in Oxford. Port Meadow is usually a plain of browning grass by this time of year. The River Thames lies this side of the distant trees, but you cannot now see where Port Meadow ends and the river begins.

Wet cow at Binsey, Oxford

Binsey is on low-lying land beside the River Thames near Oxford. The cattle looked distinctly mournful on Saturday, when this was taken.