Beyond Flooding
Natural Flood Management
Kent Countryside Partnership secures national funding for Natural Flood Management scheme.
The Kent Countryside Partnerships Natural Flood Management project has been successful in securing funding from central government. The Hawden Stream project in Hildenborough was one of 34 projects nationally to receive funding from the £1m government funded competition for innovative techniques to reduce flood risk.
Environment minister Thérèse Coffey said:
‘This funding will help more than 50 projects around the country take full advantage of innovative natural flood management measures. Flood defence technology and engineering is better than ever and by using a mix of natural and concrete defences, we can provide the best flood protection for individual areas.’
‘Methods such as restoring floodplains and planting trees will not only help protect families, homes and businesses from flooding, they will also bring environmental benefits to the wider area and all the people who live in these many communities.’
The Hawden Stream project has received £10,000 to deliver peak flow dams and create a storage pond to reduce flood risk within the community of Hildenborough. The £10,000 from central government will provide 50% match funding towards the work. The project will engage with the local community and schools to deliver flood protection as well as community events and an education program.
It is intended to create a community resource and enrich the surrounding habitat on the site of the natural flood management features to deliver multiple benefits to the local area and the natural environment.
Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:
“Natural flood management is an important part of our approach, alongside traditional flood defences and helping homeowners to improve their own property resilience. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to flooding and this scheme is a fantastic example of how we can use a variety of measures that work together to reduce flood risk.”
The Hawden Stream project will support the wider Medway Natural Flood Management program, which is looking at natural solutions to manage flood risk within key communities in the Medway catchment.
For more information contact Mark Gallant
Email: mark.gallant@kent.gov.uk
Tel: 03000 417 571 / 07740185228
Natural Flood Management – Project Overview
“Natural flood management involves techniques that aim to work with natural hydrological and morphological processes, features and characteristics to manage the sources and pathways of flood waters. These techniques include the restoration, enhancement and alteration of natural features and characteristics, but exclude traditional flood defence engineering that works against or disrupts these natural processes”1.
1.SAIFF (2011). What is meant by restoration, enhancement, and alteration under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. Edinburgh: Scottish Advisory and Implementation Forum for Flooding.
The Beyond Flooding project works across the whole of Kent and aligns Natural Flood Management with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) work delivered by the Kent Countryside Partnerships. By working at a catchment level this project develops and delivers solutions that provide a multiple benefit approach that is being sought by Kent County Council, the Environment Agency and other strategic partners.
If you would like to discuss anything relating to flooding, river improvements or you are seeking advice or support, please contact;
Mark Gallant
Email: mark.gallant@kent.gov.uk
Tel: 03000 417 571 / 07740185228
Ever wondered where the water goes when it rains? – https://youtu.be/LMq6FYiF1mo
Bang Goes The Theory – How debris dams can combat flooding – https://youtu.be/B9k2WFRQmiU
Natural Flood Management Information
NFM Handbook – https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/163560/sepa-natural-flood-management-handbook1.pdf
University of Newcastle – Runoff Attenuation Features
Charles Rangeley-Wilson explains flooding in a teapot!
Flooding: Reduce the Risk
Flood Alerts
Up-to-date alerts about flood warning on the Environment Agency website can be found at http://apps.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood/31618.aspx you can also sign up to Flood Warnings Direct to receive text and call alerts about flooding warnings in your area.
Community and Individual Resilience
Making sure you and your community are prepared for flooding if you live in at-risk area is essential; having a plan and being able to respond quickly can reduce the damage caused by flooding.
For practical advice on writing a flood plan for the community visit:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flood-plan-guidance-for-communities-and-groups
For practical advice on writing a personal flood plan visit:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-flood-plan
The Blue Directory provides independent information about products designed to protect your property.http://www.bluepages.org.uk/
If you would like to know where to get help and what to do during and after a flood event information can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood/get-help-during-a-flood
https://www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood/get-help-after-a-flood
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/floods-how-to-clean-up-your-home-safely
Riparian Landowners
If you are a riparian landowner you can find out more information about your rights and responsibilities as well as flood risk in the Environment Agency document Living on the edge –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/riverside-ownership-rights-and-responsibilities