Parishioners' experience of flooding wanted for sea level change project
Mon 10 Aug 2026
Robyn Surcombe is heading into her final year at the University of Edinburgh, where she is studying Physical Geography and this summer has been working on her dissertation research.
"My project is about sea level rise in Guernsey, and the hazard and risk that we may face in the future," she told the douzaine, because the parishes of Vale and St Sampson are her main areas of interest as they are so low-lying.
Robyn ran a research stall at Seafront Sunday earlier this month to facilitate an aspect of the project, which is centred around community engagement.
Risk
"My aim is to gather local knowledge and experiences to learn more about the risk that we may face from coastal flooding," she says, building on other work that has been done in this area.
More information is available in the leaflet below and the research student is asking Vale residents and islanders if they can help by recording their experiences of rising sea level while they have been living in Guernsey.
Copies of a questionnaire-type form to capture real experiences of flooding are available at the Vale Douzaine Room and ask people to record and indicate on a map where flooding has occurred over the years.
Completed forms can be returned to the douzaine, which will ensure they are passed on to the student to help with the project.
Threat
The States of Guernsey recognises rising sea levels as a real threat linked to climate change, with projections indicating a potential sea level rise of up to 74cm (including land movement) by the 2080s, and around 90cm by 2100.
Low-lying areas like the Bridge and the Braye du Valle are particularly vulnerable to overtopping during high tides and storms, as the projections prepared for La Société Guernesiaise's Planet Guernsey study and pictured above demonstrate.
To help, please pop into the Vale Douzaine to collect a form during normal office hours. It can be returned to us too to pass on to Robyn Surcombe.
The Constables’ Office is located at Maraitaine Road, Vale, Guernsey, GY3 5QE. Telephone: 01481 244155
Its opening hours are: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 13.00
Email: [email protected]
