Gateshead Council has been working with Aardman to warn of the dangers of groundwater flooding.
The animation studio has created a new film as part of the national Project Groundwater, which has been set up to prepare people for flooding.
It’s estimated that Gateshead sits on over 300 abandoned mine seams, all of which flooded once they became disused.
Now, due to climate change and other factors, groundwater is rising and homes in the area are at risk of flooding.
The project, which is funded by Defra’s £200m Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, is to research and mitigate the issue, with Gateshead taking the lead role.
“Groundwater flooding is one of the least understood types of flooding, yet it can be devastating, often causing disruptions that last for weeks or even months,” explained Councillor John McElroy, Gateshead Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport.
“It tends to surface weeks after long periods of heavy rain, causing damage to property, buildings and roads. It can overwhelm drainage and sewer networks, contaminate water, and make toilets and showers unusable for long periods.
“There is much more to learn about this type of flooding, so that people can be more prepared for it and better able to recover from it too.
“Our industrial past, which at its height saw more than 300 working mine seams here in Gateshead, makes us unique, hence why as a council we are the lead authority researching this type of occurrence nationally. Our work focusses on both how we can prevent such flooding, and preparing people to be ready should it happen.”
Aardman was appointed to produce Darcy’s Tale, which follows a lonely mole searching for love, who is suddenly swept away by rising groundwater.
They hope that the humorous animation will “capture people’s hearts and minds and lead to behaviour change.”
Aardman has partnered with the @EnvAgency and #ProjectGroundwater teams to highlight the devastating impact of groundwater flooding with a new short film, Darcy’s Tale.
— Aardman (@aardman) March 13, 2025
Directed by @AsaLucander, the film follows Darcy, a lonely mole searching for love, who is suddenly swept away… pic.twitter.com/mDs2JCLSym
“When we were approached by the Let’s Talk Groundwater Flooding team to help raise awareness of groundwater flooding, we knew this was an important issue to highlight in a creative and engaging way and were keen to be involved,” explained Åsa Lucander, director of the short film at Aardman.
“Animation has the power to bring complex issues to life, and we hope Darcy’s Tale helps people understand the risks and how by supporting each other, we can build a brighter future together.”
