Video: Woodland planting to slow down water
Somerset Rivers Authority part-funded the creation of 10 acres of new woodland in the catchment of the River Isle, which feeds into the Parrett.
A fairly steep section of land on Ewen Cameron’s estate at Dillington near Ilminster is no longer being used for grazing. Instead, as part of Somerset’s award-winning Hills to Levels project, it’s been planted with a mix of 6,000 native broadleaf trees. These are set about 6ft apart, so as to provide denser cover than usual and slow the flow of water from slope to valley stream.
The land features on a map of ‘flow pathways’: that is, places where water is known to run during times of heavy rainfall. Trees can intercept or interrupt flow pathways.
In the video, Lord Cameron says: “This is part of the catchment of the River Isle, it’s a small little bowl that runs into the River Isle, and clearly if you get a lot of rain, trees are far better at stopping the flow of water rushing down into the stream, rushing into the River Isle and into the Parrett, causing the flooding we’ve had recently, so if we can plant the trees, it slows the water down, and that’s what we are trying to achieve.”
The scheme was mostly funded by the Forestry Commission, under a new Countryside Stewardship scheme, but the SRA contributed nine per cent of the cost so as to maximise the flood reduction benefits.
Cllr John Osman, chairman of Somerset Rivers Authority, says in the video: “During the flooding crisis a lot of people criticised work which wasn’t done 20 years ago, such as dredging, so planning for the future now is important. This is something which is fairly low-cost, it’s good for the environment and it will play a critical part if we can replicate this kind of scheme around the county.
“I look forward to more people coming forward. We’ve got the money available for natural flood defence schemes like this and we look forward to having a conversation with anyone who thinks they can assist.
“We need more schemes like this, on the Mendips, on the Quantocks, on Exmoor. If we can slow the flow of water then hopefully we can prevent so many problems happening in the future.”
Ben Thorne, senior farm conservation officer with FWAG SW, and leader of the SRA’s land management work, says in the video that schemes do not have to be large-scale: “We’re looking for planting in strategic locations, that can make a difference: like steep slopes, like corners, next to roads, next to rivers. It has to be the right type of planting, in the right place.”
Trees planted at Dillington include oaks, evergreens for winter cover, thorns and cherries for blossom in the spring and, smiles Lord Cameron, Scots pines: “Because I’m a Scotsman and I like having Scots pines in my plantations.”
Somerset Rivers Authority has been one of the main backers of Hills to Levels since 2015, initially using Growth Deal money from the Heart of the SW Local Enterprise Partnership and, more recently, council tax and contributions from Somerset’s Internal Drainage Boards.
The video is the third in a series demonstrating natural flood management techniques across Somerset. It was filmed and edited by Watershed PR.
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Contact FWAG SW:
Call 01823-660684
Email info@fwagsw.org.uk