Flood defence goes back to nature
ASIGNIFICANT new project to reduce flooding in the River Irwell catchment area will use natural flood management methods.
Delivered by the National Trust, who own and care for Buckden Wood and the surrounding Stubbins Estate, the project has been funded by the Environment Agency.
Using natural materials from the local area, the aim of the project is to reduce the impact of flooding on nearby communities including Irwell Vale, Strongstry, Chatterton and Ramsbottom, where flooding has caused damage to properties and land in recent years. It is hoped local wildlife and their habitats will also benefit.
The first phase of the project began in January, just before Storm Christoph caused significant flooding across the country.
Working with contractors Northwest Groundworks, the National Trust have built a total of 18 ‘ leaky dams’ in Buckden Wood along the brook that flows through the woodland into the River Irwell.
They act as natural interventions in slowing the flow of water, rather than redirecting or stopping the water altogether.
Ten stone dams have been built by placing large sandstone boulders from a local quarry at selected pinch-points along the brook, alongside eight timber dams using logs from the local woodland. Further down the catchment towards the Irwell, just above Strongstry, ten smaller timber dams have also been created.
Together, the dams have already had a huge impact on the significant amounts of rainwater seen in recent weeks.
Nik Taylor, ranger for the National Trust’s Stubbins Estate, said: “We’re so grateful for the support of the Environment Agency.
“We’ve seen the devastating effects that flooding can have on local communities and the environment, particularly in the River Irwell catchment area, and the use of these natural methods is a really important way that we can help to reduce this. We’ll be monitoring the dams and moving on to the next phase of the project to build more small dams. We’ll also be working with volunteers from the local community to plant over 1,000 trees.”
The new trees will be planted in steeper contours of the surrounding land, providing useful nature corridors which will link existing woodland and provide dense cover for local birdlife such as warblers.
Elsewhere on the Stubbins Estate, the National Trust has also been carrying out work at Holcombe Moor to reverse centuriesworth of damage that has led to its important peat drying out, leading to serious changes in the vegetation.
The Trust has been creating bunds and pools on the high plateau and reintroducing Sphagnum moss to the newly rewetted areas.
The programme of work is being carried out together with Moors for the Future Partnership, Natural England and the Holcombe
Moor Commoners’ Association, with support from DEFRA’s Moor Carbon fund.