Farmland upstream of Woodborough village has been the focus of a natural flood management scheme to help slow the flow of water into the village during heavy rainfall.
The scheme was led by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Flood Risk Management team and delivered by Trent Rivers Trust, with support from the Environment Agency and Woodborough Flood Action Group.
As part of the first stage of the scheme, four earth bunds (embankments made of earth) and several small attenuation ponds were created to help control water levels, reduce downstream flooding, and encourage new habitats for wildlife. A stretch of Woodborough Beck was restored, and leaky barriers (made of wooden logs) were installed to imitate natural dams. These barriers were placed to reduce the natural flow of water during heavy downpours, slowing the flow downstream into Woodborough.
The second phase of the project has seen a previously covered section of the watercourse ‘daylighted’ (reopened), allowing it to flow naturally above ground and store water within the feature. The river channel has also been reshaped with more natural curves and bends to help slow the flow of water, promote habitat creation, and provide further environmental benefits. Additionally, two more earth bunds have been constructed to help control and manage the water flow, further reducing the risk of flooding.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said:
“We are delighted to have secured funding to bring this scheme to fruition. Not only will it help to protect homes from flooding, but it will also improve biodiversity and ecology in the area. This scheme represents a significant step forward in our efforts to create a more sustainable and resilient community. By investing in natural flood management techniques, we are not only safeguarding our residents but also nurturing the environment for future generations.
“Our thanks go to John and Cathy Charles-Jones, the landowners, for supporting this scheme and allowing these changes to be made on their land for the benefit of the whole community. Their cooperation has been instrumental in realising this project, and it stands as a testament to what can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal.”
Nick Wilding, Project Manager at Trent Rivers Trust, said:
“Nature is our first line of defence and a solution we can no longer ignore as increasing flood risk continues to disrupt communities. Woodborough is an encouraging example of our commitment to working with, rather than against, nature. It’s something we need to see more of in the Trent and its tributaries, where the widespread implementation of a variety of nature-based solutions offers resilience to catchments where few, isolated, and expensive hard-engineering solutions can struggle.
“The collaboration between Nottinghamshire County Council, a local landowner, and us, an environmental charity, allowed for a bottom-up approach, where we have been able to help alleviate the impact of flooding in a challenging catchment with substantial flood risk. We’re looking forward to continuing our work in the area and monitoring the scheme to maximise benefits for residents at flood risk.”
Paul Lockhart, Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“In the face of the significant challenges posed by climate change, Natural Flood Risk Management (NFM) is a key solution to help safeguard the nation’s future flood resilience. We are looking to accelerate investment in these schemes, which not only reduce flood risk in a sustainable way but also provide significant biodiversity and habitat improvements. The Woodborough NFM Scheme is an excellent example of what can be achieved when public bodies work together with communities to improve community resilience.”
The scheme has been funded through the Regional Flood and Coastal Committees Local Levy (£122,000), the Environment Agency (£45,000), and Nottinghamshire County Council (£55,000).
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