Extreme wet weather hits farms and plant nurseries

4 hours ago

News image — Heather Lewis said staff had worked hard to keep the nursery open

Cherry Tree Nursery A smiling Heather Lewis standing in the plant nursery with tables full of plants in the background. She has long blond hair and dark glasses. — Heather Lewis said staff had worked hard to keep the nursery open

Weeks of wet weather in Dorset have been taking their toll, with businesses and homes flooded and farmland under water.

Cattle farmer Cameron Farquharson, from Piddletrenthide, says much of the land there is under water meaning the grass is not growing and it has been too wet to carry out winter tasks.

He said: "You can't do any work. There's fencing to be repaired. We are going to be heading into spring, we hope, and the grass is sitting in a bath of cold water. Nothing's going to grow."

Cherry Tree Nursery in Bournemouth, which is run by charity Plants and Minds, has also been affected with 10 of its polytunnels temporarily flooded and its car park damaged.

Cherry Tree Nursery A man in wellies walks through flooded nursery past a row of flooded polytunnels — Cherry Tree Nursery was flooded for the first time in 35 years

Nursery assistant Heather Lewis said: "It's had an impact on all of us - on the team members, on the nursery and on the footfall.

"Our team members are adults with life-impacting mental health issues and it's just thoroughly miserable working constantly in wet, muddy conditions.

"Ten of our polytunnels were flooded, for the first time in 35 years, because we are so close to the River Stour so the tidal water came into the nursery.

"It did disperse relatively quickly so fingers crossed there's not too much serious impact on the plants.

"We've had issues with the car park which is completely washed out so we are having to spend about £1,000 for running repairs which, for a charity, is a lot to find."

Cameron Farquharson tells Radio Solent the last three years have been "sheer hell"

In August, Farquharson turned to crowdfunding to help feed cows and sheep at his Redlands Coppice farm after a prolonged drought left him without adequate grazing.

He said: "We've had two and a half years as farmers when the weather has been pretty awful. We've had extreme heat conditions and extreme wet conditions.

"It's been 41 consecutive days of rain we've had in the south west, which is crazy."

Cameron Farquharson View from Cameron Farquharson's quad as he herds his cattle through the flood water on his farm — Cameron Farquharson's fields at Redlands Coppice Farm are under water

Farquharson said there had been no significant rain on the farm "for nigh on six months" in 2025.

"The last time we had rain was 26 February and it didn't come on until 3 September," he said.

"As farmers we are going to have to be better at conserving water and harvesting the water - that's what I'm going to have to do this year, that's for sure."