Natural Flood Management in the Soar catchment

• Coordinate advice and cross-sector funding to deliver natural flood management, demonstrating environmental, social and economic benefits
• Improve freshwater habitats
• Engage and liaise with communities, stakeholders and business to drive forward an increase in long-term funding for natural flood management

As freshwater biodiversity continues to plummet and flood risk rises, we believe that the fight against the nature and climate crises can only be won if we’re doing right by our rivers and the communities depending on them.

Our rivers and wetlands should be home to thriving wildlife and provide natural sanctuaries for people. But too often they have been damaged by over-use of water or by pollution from cities, factories or farms. No rivers in England currently meet government targets for ecological health, and climate change brings new challenges including flood risks which pose threats to homes and businesses, as well as to wildlife. So it’s never been more important to bring together people with a wide range of perspectives to find ways of restoring rivers and increasing the resilience of communities to climate risks. With strong local organisations, the Soar catchment and the rivers of East Anglia can provide wonderful examples of how to restore freshwater habitats for the benefit of people and nature.

Dave Tickner, Chief Adviser – Rivers at WWF-UK

Nature-based solutions are playing a key part in adapting our landscapes, increasing people’s resilience and boosting biodiversity. In the past, a strong reliance on grey infrastructure solutions to flood risk have sidelined a full exploration and integration of nature-based solutions, such as natural flood management.

Believing that nature is an important line of defence, we are working together with land owners and communities to introduce this Defra-approved concept to selected communities in the Soar catchment. Through this project we want to work together and have an open conversation with farmers, communities and businesses about the importance of nature-based solutions.

A focus on natural flood management starts with a shift in mindset and approach. For natural flood management, we look carefully where the water sits naturally in the landscape. We trace its flow path downstream, identify the pinch points and ground conditions that result in excess volumes flowing downstream causing flood risk to roads and properties. Then, we look for ways to hold and store it in the catchment. The idea is that incremental changes in land use can slow the flow and reduce the rate and speed of water. By using natural processes, we are not only advancing a cost-effective solution, but one that benefits people and wildlife, too.

So far, Trent Rivers Trust has been exploring the flood risk data across the Soar catchment and has been liaising with communities, land owners and local authorities to identify areas and sites for potential future Capital work and community education on flood risk. We are working closely with the flood risk management authorities to align our work with other more traditional flood risk measures, to achieve the maximum benefits for the communities at risk.

Watch this space!

To find out more about WWF and Aviva’s partnership visit WWF‘s website.