Natural Flood Management
Natural Flood Management (NFM) involves restoring or mimicking the natural hydrological processes that occur across the landscape that have typically been interfered with due to human activities.
These include slowing the flow of water, storing water, holding back the sediment, and aiding water infiltration into the soil to prevent large volumes of runoff. Natural Flood Management techniques aren’t designed to replace traditional engineering methods such as floodwalls, embankments, and storage reservoirs. Instead, they form an important part of the mosaic, all working collaboratively, mitigating the risk of low land flooding.
Natural Flood Management in Cornwall & Devon is becoming progressively important as the frequency and intensity of flood events are increasing in the UK due to climate change. Cornwall & Devon counties are prone to high-intensity storms and floods already, ranging from small, localised flood events to countywide storms.
As a landowner, you can be part of the solution via opting to implement NFM measures on your land, such as floodplain reconnection and leaky dams.
Lost Habitat share a wealth of knowledge and expertise and can advise you on the most suitable NFM measures and available funding you may be entitled to, such as the Upstream Thinking Programme or the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme.
Working collaboratively with our partners, such as the North Devon Biosphere and the Devon Wildlife Trust, to pool together our knowledge and ensure NFM inventions meet your requirements whilst achieving maximum benefit for nature.
Via opting to carry out Natural Flood Management techniques on your land, you will also be contributing to a wide range of other benefits to both people and the planet. These include:
- Restoring habitats for wildlife, boosting biodiversity.
- Improving soil health.
- Improving water quality.
- Promoting health and wellbeing.
- Increasing resilience to climate change.
To find out more about the different types of NFM interventions Lost Habitat can advise on read our NFM article.
If you’re a landowner and are interested Natural Flood Management in Devon, don’t hesitate to get in contact and we can devise a suitable site-specific plan and help you to secure any available funding.