Over the past year eight residents have been working with scientists from Oxford, Durham and East Anglia Universities to take a fresh look at the problem.

Ryedale Flood Research Group has married local knowledge with academic expertise to explore a totally new way of doing science.

They have been asking:

l What causes flooding?

l Is it getting worse?

l Does land and river management contribute?

l What could be done?

Working together, the group has examined historical flooding patterns, gathered data, and built a unique hydrological flood risk model, specific to this area.

It has come up with some "exciting" suggestions which it plans to share with the wider Ryedale community, said project administrator Gillian Wills, at Oxford University centre for the environment

An interactive exhibition of the group's work is to be held in Pickering Memorial Hall on Tuesday October 28 from 2-9pm. Throughout the day, visitors will be able to watch video clips, see the flood risk model in action and talk to group members about the research project.

At 3pm the group will present its report, Making Space for People, and it will present a CD containing resources generated during the project to Pickering Library for public use.

Sarah Whatmore, of the centre for the environment, said: "Working with people in Ryedale who live with the threat and effects of flooding has been invaluable for the social and natural scientists in the project team.

"Our collaboration has enabled detailed local knowledge of the catchment to be brought to bear on the modelling of flood dynamics."

The eight residents involved include Mike Potter, of Undercliffe, Pickering, who said: "The whole project has been conducted with a refreshing mutual respect for each others' knowledge. Consequently, this has been a fascinating learning experience, certainly for the Ryedale residents group, but also I suspect for the academics.

"It has given serious credibility to the views and ideas of local residents which would previously have been given only lip service by figures in authority."

The Pickering flooding case study has been the first in a three-year university research project for the rural economy and land use programme.

The project team is now working with a similar group of local residents in Sussex and will continue their research there until May.

In December 2009 a final project conference will be held in Oxford.

l What do you think? Email: sheila.elgey@yrnltd. co.uk

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