The Trust’s existing work through their project Wye Adapt to Climate Change supports landowners and communities to make land more resilient to the effects of climate change such as heavier, more frequent rainfall and periods of drought. 

The work involves meeting with farmers, land managers and communities to identify possible sites for natural flood management and explore potential interventions they could deliver. The new funding of £100,000 from Welsh Water will contribute to the delivery of these interventions. 

Natural flood management uses natural processes to help manage flood risk, slowing the flow of streams and rivers and slowing, or reducing the flow of surface water which is heading into rivers. 

Interventions include: 

• leaky dams – permeable barriers such as branches – installed across streams to slow the flow of the river 

• the creation of scrapes (shallow pools) or ponds, holding water within the landscape.  

• Planting hedgerows across steep slopes which slows the pace of water and helps to capture sediment before it reaches the stream.  

• Planting trees, which can take in large volumes of water through their roots which helps reduce the amount of surface water 

• Establishing permanent pastures and meadows as grasses and wildflowers are also excellent at taking in water. Diverse grasslands will include plants with incredibly deep roots which help to take in water and the vegetation on the surface also helps to reduce sediment running off the land. 

The new funding will specifically go towards interventions on the Yazor Brook.  This will enable the project team to consider the whole catchment of the brook and look at the knock-on impact of different interventions. No individual intervention is ever a ‘silver-bullet’ but by implementing a large range of interventions there will be a greater overall impact on the Yazor brook. 

Natural flood management techniques benefit a whole range of people and wildlife. They help to reduce flood risk for communities downstream of their location but they can also make the land more resilient to drought. For example, more diverse grasslands can help more water to infiltrate the soil during wet periods, restoring groundwater supplies which are vital in drought periods. The deeper roots of a lot of these plants also enable them to withstand droughts much better meaning that a healthy grassland is maintained for a longer time.  

They also create new and varied habitats for wildlife. Creating ponds to hold flood water creates a new breeding area for amphibians and many invertebrates and feeding habitat for birds. New hedgerows create corridors for small mammals, nesting sites for birds and can provide additional shelter for livestock from excess wind or sun. 

Sharon Ellwood, Head of Environmental Services at Welsh Water says: 

“As a not-for-profit organisation, our customers and the environment in which they live are at the heart of everything we do and we are delighted to support projects that enhance biodiversity, nature and communities across our operating area. Natural flood management offers real benefits to habitats, wildlife and communities that can be impacted by flooding. We look forward to seeing the climate change resilience the improvements led by the Hereford Wildlife Trust will bring.” 

Nature Recovery Manager at Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, Sarah King, says: 

“The funding from Dwr Cymru, Welsh Water, is enabling us to work with farmers and landowners and make real change to the landscape. These changes help reduce flood risk and improve the health of the river whilst providing new and improved habitats for a range of wildlife.” 

Anyone with land within the Yazor Brook catchment who is interested in working with the Trust to consider Natural Flood Management please get in contact with Holly Thompson, h.thompson@herefordshirewt.co.uk.