hi

Today we start a hose-pipe ban. No one is now allowed to use a hose pipe to water gardens, wash cars etc.

This might not be a surprise if we lived in Southern Europe or drought affected areas of the world.

No no. We live in the North West of England !!! This is the wettest place in the country and it is here that we have the Pennines and The Lake District where it is almost notorious for rain.

The officials say that we have had a dry winter. Maybe that could be so....but this is the area not six months ago was severely flooded followed by the heaviest snow that many of us can remember.

We have complained for years that the cachement of water is poor as once the reservoirs fill the water just runs away to the sea.

At the moment we are the only area in England to be affected - how can that make sense ?????

Places that get only a fraction of the rain we get just don't have the problems we have. For instance I have lived in Spain and the rainfall was meagre compared to here in England.

We lived in a town about two miles from the city and the footpaths all the way in are planted with trees and flowers. They installed an automatic watering system some years back and every day at early dawn and late evening the areas are watered. All the residents freely water lawns and plants etc etc.

What are we doing wrong......or not doing at all??

It's water water everywhere and not a drop to drink.....for plants anyway.

Cheers

MikeL2