Gala celebration of Ulley flood survival

The event next Sunday will be hosted by the Friends of Ulley Country Park and Rotherham Borough Council’s Green Spaces team.

A family bug hunt, kids’ art activities and guided walks will be on offer from 11am to 3.30pm, with  Whiston Brass Band providing the music.

There will also be displays from groups including South Yorkshire Badger Group, bee keepers, Groundwork and the emergency services.

Friends chairman Dave Haswell said: “On June 29, 2007, the Advertiser banner headline proclaimed ‘Ulley on the brink,’ in reference to the storms that week.

“More than four inches of rain had fallen on saturated ground. That water flowed into the reservoir and down the old Victorian by-wash channel, eroding a huge ‘bite’ out of the earth dam.

“That the dam survived is testament to the work of RMBC staff who raised the alarm and emergency services who pumped out millions of gallons of water.”

Plans for rehabilitation works were passed four months later after the Friends presented a 4,000-signature petition against its closure.

The £4.9 million project was finally completed in summer 2010, at a cost of £4.9 million.

Mr Haswell said: “The gala is a celebration, marking the fourth anniversary of the potential flooding downstream which would have been caused should the dam have burst.

“As always on our ‘Friends’ Sundays,’ there will be delicious homemade refreshments, a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and the chance to chat over a cup of tea and cake while surveying one of the most beautiful views in Yorkshire.”

Have you got an event to publicise? Click here.