The owner of a farm in Lower Shelton, near to where the A421 has flooded has issued a desperate appeal to help save animals she says are at risk of drowning due to flood water being pumped into balancing ponds nearby.
Jo Johnson’s farm, Moreteyne’s Retreat, is near balancing ponds being used to drain off water pumped from the A421, which she says are now putting her animals at risk due to the amount of water already in the area and poor maintenance of the ponds.
She’s now asking other landowners nearby if they can help accommodate her livestock, wich includes sheep and horses until the water subsides.
“On Sunday the deluge from the A421 hit the farm again and within 15 minutes the water was chest high,” says Jo.
“Ponies had to be swum out in freezing contaminated water. Sheep had to be carried out by some 50+ community heroes, one as young as 15, who risked their safety to save these animals.
“The farm is destroyed, stables, shelters, farm machinery- everything we rebuilt since January has been lost.”
Jo has now set up a JustGiving page asking for help to cover the costs of the relocation of her animals.
“At the moment the animals who have lived together for many years have been displaced. Ponies have been separated and are living temporarily thanks to the kindness of locals.”
Jo has said that if it wasn’t for local help the fate of the animals could have been very different.
“On the night of the flood, some 50+ local neighbours and volunteers came and waded through the water carrying sheep to safety. Many staying until the early hours to ensure the animal’s safety.
“The community was amazing and we cannot thank them enough. Their selflessness is the only reason why we did not lose a single animal on Sunday.
“Now we are trying to bring the animals back together. The farm will take some time to recover and the balancing ponds and drainage issues need to be made fit for purpose before we can risk bringing them home.
“We have found a temporary location for them but we are in need of temporary shelters to keep them warm, dry and safe at night.”
If you would like to help Jo or would like to find out more, you can contact her via mrsjoannajohnson@gmail.com or her sister at carey.adams@sky.com, and her personal Facebook page. You can also contact them via the farm’s Instagram page.
Questions raised
Jo has raised several questions about the maintenance of the ponds and them being fit for purpose.
She has highlighted broken pipes and other factors which she says have put not only her animal’s lives at risk but also the lives of those who came to help evacuate the farm.
The Bedford Independent has raised these questions with various organisations and the local authority and will be reporting further once they reply.
