Natural Flood Management

Response to NFM:

Unsurprisingly, with questions to prompt responses in this area, this theme received the largest number of comments, with general support for the principles of Natural Flood Management (NFM):

"Slow the flow in upland areas of catchments.”
”Salt marsh – once sea inundation.”
”Land should be allowed to flood in the winter.”

There were also very specific ideas:

“Water force heat pumps? Using the power of water?"
”Planting of hazel plantations on slopes above floodplains. Willow in food areas.”
“Deep-rooted grasses on moors. Rotation crops."
”Dewponds in the higher catchment in large numbers.”

There was openness to new ideas around natural flood management, such as using amenity land like playing fields for water storage, or making space for the rivers to use their floodplains:

“Build school playing fields as with temporary dams.”
“Make space for water so the rivers can flood onto the floodplains.”
”Making space for water – engineering solutions to reconnect floodplains.”

The idea was also raised within the councillor workshops:

“Find areas to make space for flooding.”

As set out in the farming section, there was a desire to pay farmers for the services they could provide in storing water during flood events.

Tree Planting:

There were many comments about the benefits of tree planting, and also evidence of awareness of the need for the right tree in the right place. This was tempered with concern to protect other habitats from tree planting, for example wildflower meadows.

“Tree planting on community/parish council-owned land.”
“Plant more trees - even a small tree in a small garden will help.”
“Plant trees in the right places; where to plant and which varieties.”
“Don’t plant trees on old pasture which is still home to the wildflowers, these are carbon sinks in themselves.”

There was also an understanding of the role of plant diversity on the floodplains and the potential for re-wildling:

"More diverse wild plants on floodplain fields."
“Lots of rewilding.”