A group of organisations from the Cumbria Strategic Flood Partnership have produced a practical guide to natural flood management measures to aid farmers, landowners and other interested organisations with opportunities to help reduce flood risk across Cumbria and Lancashire.
Natural flood management covers a whole range of measures that can be used to temporarily hold flood water in the landscape for longer, reducing the amount and speed of water reaching towns and villages. These measures deliver other benefits such as cleaning water, storing carbon or improving habitat and, in many cases, can also benefit farm businesses.
Examples of natural flood management techniques on rivers include: keeping soil in good condition, creating and restoring hedgerows, recreating wetlands and peat bog, building woody dams across rivers to slow the flow of water in storm conditions, temporary water storage areas and planting trees.
The new information guide outlines what natural flood management measures involve, how much they might cost and what funding could be available for implementing them, as well as sources of advice and contact details of organisations involved in managing flood risk and the natural environment.
Copies of the booklet can be picked up from West Cumbria Rivers Trust offices at 32 Lake Road, Keswick or can be viewed online.
