Our reserves staff are busy ensuring livestock are safe and dealing with footbridges and fencing which has been swept away in floods.

At Summer Leys in Northamptonshire the visitor centre has been closed and a planned event this weekend has been cancelled as access to the site is affected and paths are underwater.

At the Nene Wetlands large parts of the path network is impassable and the education area is heavily flooded, and the situation is similar at Titchmarsh nature reserve.

In Bedfordshire Flitwick Nature Reserve has been inundated with water and a footbridge has been disturbed. Begwary Brook and The Riddy are also largely underwater.

Visitors are being urged to avoid visiting the most flooded reserves and to take care elsewhere as the ground is saturated and chalk slopes are particularly treacherous for walkers.

Matt Jackson, Conservation Director, said: “Our reserves staff are very busy dealing with the impact of what has been a deluge across our region this week. Please bear with us as we ensure livestock is safe and then when the water subsides we will work to make reserves safe.

“Even if there is no obvious flooding please be aware that the ground in many areas is saturated. If you are going for a walk this weekend then make sure you are wearing suitable footwear and please keep to paths.

“Extreme weather events are becoming more common and climate change has made matters worse. It is vital that we manage our countryside so that it is resilient to the changing weather patterns to protect nature and public access.”