2SRA Annual Report 2021-22: Natural Flood Management (NFM) for Doniford catchment farms
In March 2021, the Board of Somerset Rivers Authority agreed to fund a joint initiative by the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest (FWAG SW) and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) to help tackle flooding problems across the catchment of the Doniford Stream in West Somerset. FWAG SW and WWT had been working together on a Green Recovery Challenge Fund project in the parishes of Bicknoller, Elworthy, Sampford Brett and Stogumber. One aim of getting extra funding from the SRA was to enable more work with farmers and landowners, including some Natural Flood Management (NFM) measures.
NFM work in 2021-22 has included four schemes:
Bicknoller Combe: Materials cut at the base of the combe were hauled uphill by an Ardennes heavy horse, and four leaky woody dams were installed in the combe stream. The stream
runs through common land grazed by cattle, sheep and wild animals such as deer. The dams’ purpose is to help slow the flow of water down to Bicknoller, as heavy rain has often been known to cause flash flooding there.
Stogumber, Vellow Farm Wood: A 200-metre cross-slope hedge was planted, and fencing erected to protect it from grazing animals. The hedge intercepts surface water and provides an extended corridor for wildlife from the wood.
Triscombe, Triscombe Farm: A 130-metre cross-slope hedge was planted including four trees. Fencing was put up to protect the hedge from grazing horses, and a small gate was fitted. The hedge intercepts surface water run-off and for wildlife connects two boundary hedges already there.
Williton: In the corner of a field behind homes on the A358 Tower Hill in Williton, a 135-metre hedgebank and swale were created to intercept surface water run-off towards properties. Fencing was put up, with a gate fitted to enable access for future swale de-silting.