THE community came to the rescue of the Dean Heritage Centre when the manager arrived to find the lower galleries and shop flooded at the start of half-term week.

Iain Baird, one of the trustees who arrived early with wellies and buckets a week last Sunday (February 16), said: “The old 18th Century walls that are built into the bank by the road were sealed some years ago to stop water penetrating the stones.

“However, there had been so much rain that the water found its way below the walls and bubbled up like a spring through the floor of the gallery.”

Fortunately, the water had seeped through rock so was well filtered and clean.

Iain added: “As we were getting rid of the water in the galleries, it was reflooding from these springs.

“It didn’t stop coming in until the afternoon. A team of about 20 volunteers appeared like magic to help us and we are most grateful for the time and effort that they gave us.

“It shows how Foresters value their heritage and want to keep it safe.”

The café at the Soudley-bassed centre was open on Monday and by Tuesday morning the rest of the centre was open for visitors, although the playground remained too muddy to open.

Thankfully the Gruffalo figures that stand alongside the stream, were all intact once the floodwater had receded.

But the flooding was not all bad news because the centre’s waterwheel generated some extra

electricity.

The water going over the wheel is a particularly impressive sight for young visitors who come to take part in the craft activities that take place each school holiday.