Groundwater Rising

Mark Fermor is CEO and a co-founder of GeoSmart Information, a UK-based environmental consultancy and flood data analytics company. He has spent decades working to understand water and flooding (of all types) and developing technology to help map, analyse and forecast.

In this interview with host Helen, Mark gives his expert insights into why this is an exciting time in the groundwater and flooding sphere.

Discussion points include:

- The step change improvement machine learning is delivering in terms of making flood mapping and forecasting more robust and detailed, especially when it comes to groundwater

- Why he is advocating for a more integrated national and catchment based approach to understanding flooding

- How groundwater's influence on fluvial flooding is often underestimated and misunderstood

- Why he believes groundwater flooding should be added to the UK's national risk register

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To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

The Groundwater Flood Warning service was launched in 2024 by Project Groundwater. It was created in partnership with 3 Sided Cube, Jacobs, and the British Geological Survey (BGS). Throughout its creation, our communities had opportunities to provide feedback on the first prototype and suggest features.

Guy Wilcox and Tom Trigg from 3 Sided Cube join host Helen to discuss lessons learned during the development and testing of the service. Topics include:

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

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To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Claude Nsobya undertook groundbreaking research into the links between community and resilience... with the added dimension of being able to compare data from two countries - Uganda and the UK.

Claude was inspired to pursue his research by family experiences of drought in rural communities in Uganda and has continued his academic journey in the UK, culminating in his PhD research, which he talks about in detail in the episode. There are fascinating insights here for both groundwater flooding and flood management in general, including:

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

Email [email protected]

To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Adrian Porter joins host Helen to tell the story of hie remarkable journey from being groundwater flooded with devastating effects... to becoming a local flood warden... and eventually re-training to become a water and environment expert... and then getting a role researching and preserving chalk streams.

In the first part of this episode we get to hear the dramatic story of how Adrian's own house succumbed to groundwater flooding - he tells the story extremely effectively... this is a very valuable and insightful description of what it is actually like to be groundwater flooded. 

In the second half of the episode we hear about how Adrian has harnessed this negative experience in a positive way. He shares vital tips and advice for anyone else affected by groundwater flooding on options to protect their home... and then goes on to explain how communities can become more resilient and help each other. 

Finally, we hear more about how Adrian now works with chalk streams and his thoughts on how we can make progress on better understanding groundwater and why he believes we need to take the approach of working with nature... not trying to control it.

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

Email [email protected]

To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Winterbournes are a type of temporary river that only flow above ground at certain times of year. They are very important in understanding how groundwater works, as well as chalk aquifers. Observing the flora and fauna they support is vital, because it gives clues to a whole variety of environmental patterns, including the effects of pollution, urbanisation and what may happen with climate change.

In this episode, host Helen interviews Patrycja Meadows (Pan Area Senior Ecologist at Environment Agency) to get the theory on winterbournes... and then visits one with Patrycja and her team as they undertake sampling. On a lovely spring day with the river flowing fast and the lambs bleating in the background, this is an evocative and insightful episode captured at the perfect time of year to explore winterbournes.

Patrycja talks passionately about the role of citizen science, and you can find out more about how to get involved via these pages of the Enivronment Agency website.

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

Email [email protected]

To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Rhiannon Marchi-Smith is an independent hydrogeologist specialising in groundwater, mine water, and subsurface risk management. Her work focuses on connecting science, policy, and decision-making regarding underground water resources.

Rhiannon has learnt through experience what works when trying to communicate complex science to communities affected by groundwater flooding. She has hard-earned lessons to share in terms of turning evidence into action that makes a difference.

In this episode, Rhiannon and host Helen discuss topics including:

This is an essential listen to anyone currently involved in a community-based project. The insights and advice in this episode could help you out a lot.

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

Email [email protected]

To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Hazel Cottle is an occupational therapist and mother whose innovative idea, Puddle Parks, reimagines how families engage with the outdoors—especially on rainy days. Her work centres on harnessing the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outside, even in wet weather, inspired by both her clinical experience and her belief in the power of nature to spark joy and connection.

In this episode (new host Helen's first) Hazel joins Helen to introduce the concept of Puddle Parks and to talk about the wider issues of understanding how rain, water, environment, community and climate are linked. Could innovative ideas like Puddle Parks help people understand - from an early age - rainfall patterns, how water and ground interact, as well as help communities adapt to changing weather linked to climate change

Hazel introduced PuddleParks through her TED and TEDxBrighton talk (which you can watch here), highlighting how purpose‑designed outdoor spaces can turn rain into an invitation rather than a barrier. These playful environments use rain‑activated features such as light, sound and water‑driven movement to encourage accessible and inclusive community, curiosity, and adventure for children and adults alike.

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

Email [email protected]

To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

In her final episode hosting Groundwater Rising (before handing over to new host Helen Banyard), host Katie interviews Matt Georges, founder of Orbital Applied Economics about mental health and flooding.

Historically, investment in flood prevention and flood defences has mainly been in physical structures. But more and more is being understood about the importance of community flood resilience, and behind this lies the issue of mental health. Being flooded affects mental health greatly, but it's hard to put an economic value on mental health impacts... which means its importance may be being under considered in decisions about which interventions to fund.

Matt is leading the ground-breaking FloodMind research project that aims to fill a research gap (very little has been done about mental health and flooding) and then work towards a mathematical model that can better understand the mental health impacts and their economic value - specifically in terms of groundwater flooding.

In a funding decision-making context that often boils down to cost, the aim of Flood Mind is to provide more of an evidence-based platform for mental health to be given more importance in future flood scheme funding.

To find out more about FloodMind, visit floodmind.co.uk

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

Email [email protected]

To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

After nearly two years of presenting Groundwater Rising, Katie Hargrave-Smith is leaving to pursue a new role (full details in the episode) and hands over the microphone to Helen Banyard. Helen shares her background, including her journey to working within Flooding and Innovation.

Katie and Helen discuss everything from the emotional impact of flooding, to areas they want to explore with the podcast, as well as talking about Katie's insights and highlights from her time on the podcast. A lovely listen at the beginning of a new year and a new chapter for Groundwater Rising.

Thanks to Katie for building a superb foundation. Welcome Helen and here's to a fantastic future ahead.

Katie recorded an episode - which will be her last - on Mental Health that will publish at the end of January 2026, and then Helen's first episode will be at the end of February.

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

Email [email protected]

To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising

Dr Paul Ellis (Hydrolex) joins host Katie to share his expertise on how groundwater interacts with other water sources. Often, in flooding situations, there is a mistaken assumption that just one source of water is involved. But, understanding how all sources of water - including groundwater (which the least is known about) is vital to understand, plan for and mitigate flooding properly.

Have a story you’d like to share on Groundwater Rising?

Email [email protected]

To find out more about Project Groundwater, visit projectgroundwater.co.uk

Want to watch this episode on YouTube? Go to www.youtube.com/@GroundwaterRising