SRA Annual Report 2023-24: Natural flood management schemes
Ten schemes were completed across Somerset during 2023-24.
More were planned between October 2023 and March 2024, but wet weather swept many activities to April 2024 and beyond.
Schemes were:
Pudleigh Mill, Wadeford near Chard
Pudleigh Mill, Wadeford near Chard, River Parrett catchment, two linked schemes developed with community involvement. The first created a backwater next to a tributary of the River Isle and the old mill leat. Doing this involved clearing vegetation, dredging the mill leat to remove stones and gravel deposited during flooding in June 2021, and reconnecting the tributary to its floodplain.
The second scheme involved live-laying alder and sycamore trees across this watercourse to act as natural flow spreaders and thereby increase the amount of water stored in the new backwater and suitable land nearby. The aim is to help reduce local flood risks, especially to homes in Court Mill Lane and properties downstream.
Hill Farm, Barrington
Hill Farm, Barrington, River Parrett catchment, 650 trees and 10 shrubs planted in hillside fields above the village to help slow the flow of water down to properties and roads (especially Silver Street) and reduce the run-off of sediment.
The latest in a series of schemes locally, including the installation of an SRA-funded silt-trap in Bonnings Lane, Barrington, and earlier rounds of tree and hedge-planting around Hill Farm, funded jointly by the SRA and the landowner.
Hills Farm, Fitzhead
Hills Farm, Fitzhead, River Tone catchment, two scrapes (72 square metres and 300 sqm) and a bund were created to hold surface water which previously ran down a steep slope straight into a stream above the main road through the village.
Raleigh Manor, Wheddon Cross
Raleigh Manor, Wheddon Cross, River Avill catchment, 780 hedge plants were planted to make a new 130metre hedge along the side of an access track between pastures used for grazing livestock.
To guard against farm animals eating the new hedge plants, 130 metres of protective fencing was also erected. The scheme’s aim is to help slow the flow of water down the Avill catchment by cutting across flow pathways.
Chargot estate, Luxborough, Upper Washford
Chargot estate, Luxborough, Upper Washford, West Somerset Streams catchment, two schemes.
The first (pictured above) installed a cascade of three stone-faced wooden leaky dams, well-anchored by tree stumps. The dams help to slow the flow of water and sediments downstream, and thereby reduce flood risks.
The second scheme (pictured above, and on the back cover of the printed report’s back cover) desilted a pond (257 square metres) to increase its capacity to hold water during periods of peak flow, thereby again helping to reduce flood risks for properties in Luxborough and land downstream. The pond’s outfall was re-designed and reinforced with stone, with a leaky letterbox-style outlet installed to help the landowner control flows of water.
Carslake Farm, near Stogumber, Doniford Stream
Carslake Farm, near Stogumber, Doniford Stream, West Somerset Streams catchment, a pond (450 square metres) was created with a sluice to allow for water levels to be controlled.
Levels can be lowered before periods of heavy rain to make space for more water, thereby slowing its flow down catchment, but also in drier times some water can be retained as a habitat and resource for wildlife. The pond complements another SRA-funded pond created in 2022-23 and 400 trees and shrubs planted with a Trees for Water Action Fund grant in 2023-24.
Witham Park Farm, Witham Friary near Frome
Witham Park Farm, Witham Friary near Frome, River Frome catchment (source to confluence with Maiden Bradley Brook), 1700 hedge plants were planted to make a 425metre hedge across the contour of some sloping land and along a bank adjacent to a ditch, to intercept surface flow pathways and so reduce flood risks down catchment. To protect the new hedge plants from grazing livestock, 425 metres of fencing was also erected.
Orchard Close, Orchard Road, Carhampton
Orchard Close, Orchard Road, Carhampton, West Somerset Streams catchment, works started in 2022-23 and were completed in April 2023. Following several site visits, and discussions with residents and landowners, a series of moves was made to reduce the troublesome run-off of water from land above Orchard Close.
Works included creating a ditch around two edges of a field where run-off water used to gather from several sources, culverting this ditch beneath the field gateway, and using spoil that came from making the ditch to create a bund around a new pond designed to take water from a new feeder swale. A change in land management was also agreed. All these works were designed to complement a series of other SRA-funded initiatives to reduce flooding in and around Carhampton, particularly around the A39 Carhampton Cross.