Community rally to help 'rebuild' Ollerton horse fields after 'devastating' flooding

A Boughton woman with horse fields in Ollerton has shared her “devastation” after rescuing her horses from six feet of flooded water – as the community rally round to help rebuild her field in the aftermath.
By Phoebe Cox
Published 24th Oct 2023, 11:27 BST
Updated 24th Oct 2023, 16:59 BST
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Maggie Horner was ‘devastated’ after her horse field and stables – near Ollerton McDonalds – were flooded by Storm Babet on Friday.

She said: “We literally lost everything and waded through to try and salvage what we could.

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“All my horse fields were submerged under six feet of water but we managed to get the horses out at midnight.”

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A bird's eye view of the extend of the flooding in Ollerton. Drone footage provided by Bowe Community Radio CIC.A bird's eye view of the extend of the flooding in Ollerton. Drone footage provided by Bowe Community Radio CIC.
A bird's eye view of the extend of the flooding in Ollerton. Drone footage provided by Bowe Community Radio CIC.

Maggie spent most of the weekend assessing the damage, as fencing and infrastructure was damaged by the storm.

Toni-Louise Newcombe, of the voluntary-run, non-profit community interest company The Rope Project, has launched an appeal to raise funds to cover the cost of the repairs.

She said: “We want to raise funds to help Maggie Horner and get the help she so desperately needs.

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“A trench was dug a few years ago to help drain excess water, however this had no impact with the amount of water that came down on Friday.

Damage on the Ollerton field caused by Storm Babet.Damage on the Ollerton field caused by Storm Babet.
Damage on the Ollerton field caused by Storm Babet.

“The bridge that sits over the ditch was damaged beyond repair and connects the fields where the stable stands.

“Rather than do a JustGiving or GoFundMe that takes money and time – we opened our PayPal to help raise funds directly.”

Funds to help cover the cost of new fencing and bridge repairs on the site can be made through PayPal to [email protected].

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Toni-Louise added: “Donations can also be dropped off in person.”

Contact Toni-Louise via [email protected] for more details.

Drone footage of the flooding in Ollerton supplied by Bowe Community Radio CIC.