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Turf Boat Model - understanding flood past and imagining floods future

Added 29th April 2026

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This resource has taken on a new function with schools as climate crisis becomes a topic.

Pre historic boats like this model were the desired method of transport when roads were a thing of the future or were subject to regular flooding. 

In Somerset (old English for Summer Farm) the land was always flooded in winter and spring. Land drainage changed this in the 1950's and the tradition of building a basic boat from a deck, five ribs and four planks from elm tress finally died out.

This kit enables children to discuss climate change in teams while making a boat that may well be a template they use in the future if floods return to low lying land across the UK, wetlands and peat bogs like those in Somerset and around the Severn and Avon rivers.  

The kits reflect traditional boat building techniques. They use recyclable resources, prompting discussions about what would we use in our environment to build boats with. 

 

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