Natural England

The key to long-term, cost effective flood prevention could be held in England's National Parks and farmland landscapes, says Natural England one year on from last year’s summer floods.

Thriving wetlands, restored peat bogs and free-flowing rivers are recommended by Natural England to reduce the harmful effects of flooding. By increasing the natural capacity of the countryside to absorb and hold excess water, we can help to slow run-off and dramatically decrease the risk of flooding.

Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England, said: “Natural flood defences could be the key to long-term flood prevention. Well-managed landscapes not only play a crucial role in our need to cope with the increased probability of extreme rainfall, but they have huge potential benefits for biodiversity, pollution reduction and carbon storage.

“The capacity of the countryside to absorb water must be increased. To do this we must start by reversing changes made to landscapes. Restoration of peat bogs in the uplands would slow water reaching the streams and lowland rivers, reducing the threat to towns such as Ripon, Hull and Sheffield – all of which have experienced severe flooding.

“‘Flood friendly’ land management is not a replacement for, but a necessary complement to existing flood defence. Traditional flood defences of concrete and earth embankments may no longer be adequate or sustainable in the long-term,” concluded Sir Martin.

Restoration of peat bogs: The West Midlands Region hosts Britain's third largest raised bog, Fenn's, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem & Cadney Mosses which covers almost 1000 ha. The centre of the Mosses, now Fenn's & Whixall Mosses National Nature Reserve. was torn apart for commercial peat cutting with one drain every 10 m. Rainfall which used to be absorbed by the peat bog, used to rush off the bog through these drains into streams and lowland rivers, causing flooding on surrounding land wherever drains outside the site were not maintained. Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales are restoring the bogs by damming the ditches and installing storm water pipes. Restoration of this peat bog is not only benefiting precious wildlife habitat, but also reducing the rate of run-off. Natural England has also acquired some of the drains causing the flooding off-site and together with neighbours has cleaned them out to further reduce any flooding. The other benefit of restoring peatbog habitats is sheer quantities of carbon that they store: there is more carbon stored in the UK’s peat than in all the forests of Britain and France combined. All of the peatlands in England and Wales would absorb around 41,000 tonnes of carbon a year if in a pristine condition but could emit up to 381,000 tonnes of carbon a year if they are damaged by practices such as excessive burning, drainage and over-grazing. The restoration and enhancement of peatlands could save around 400,000 tonnes a year, which is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 1.1 billion car miles or 84,000 family-sized cars.

Recreation of wetlands: Natural England is a partner in the 50-year Wetland Vision project, which is seeking to recreate floodplain wetland habitats in suitable localities. An example within our region is the Staffordshire Washlands project. The aim of this project is to ensure healthy and biologically diverse rivers and their associated floodplain habitats in a landscape managed for the sustainable use of water.

Recent problems with flash flooding of large areas of land have shown that new approaches to flood risk management are needed. The effects of climate change are likely to be that we have heavy rainfall more often in Staffordshire.

The Staffordshire Washlands project focuses on land management practices in the catchment areas of the Rivers Trent, Sow & Penk, in order to provide a positive model of holistic flood risk management – with added socio-economic and environmental benefits as local economy will develop through farm diversification and eco-tourism which will contribute to maintaining wildlife-rich habitats and an enhanced landscape.

Free-flowing rivers: The Severn Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP) consultation document has recently been issued by the Environment Agency. It gives an overview of the existing flood risk across the catchment and sets out how we would like to manage this risk over the next 50 to 100 years.

The Severn CFMP covers an area of approximately 11000 km2. Major tributaries include the Rivers Vyrnwy, Roden, Tern, Teme, Leadon, Warwickshire Avon and Stour. The main urban areas of the catchment include Shrewsbury, Telford and the Black Country, Kidderminster and Worcester.

Although a lot of the land use within the River Severn CFMP area is agricultural, it is home to around 2.3 million people.

Major areas are at risk from river flooding, including Shrewsbury and Worcester, as well as towns on tributary rivers such as Leamington Spa, Evesham and Kidderminster. In addition there are significant areas of agricultural land located in floodplain that are subject to flooding. The CFMP identifies the locations currently at risk and predicts how this might change in the future with scenarios such as climate change, urban development and changes in land use.

The CFMP considers ways of reducing flood risk other than building flood defences. Measures that may reduce flood risk include reducing surface water run off, increasing flood storage, and restoring river channels and floodplains so they work more naturally and store water as they have done historically.

It also considers the factors that may limit what we can do. They include the danger to isolated properties, new economic and residential developments that can cause flooding elsewhere, and changes in land use and water quality.

The aim of the CFMP is to set flood risk management policies that are believed to be the most viable, effective and sustainable for the catchment.

The final plan is being compiled by the Environment Agency, with Natural England being a key consultee.

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Notes for editors

Natural England’s responsibilities for the conservation, protection and enhancement of the natural environment mean that we have an intense and legitimate interest in the way that flood risk is managed.

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

For further information contact: Dean Gallen, telephone: 01905 362987, Email: Dean.g.gallen@naturalengland.org.uk For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk