Welcome to the first edition of the DRIP newsletter, which we will be producing quarterly. This will provide updates on the exciting pilot projects being carried out across Devon to improve resilience to flooding in targeted communities. Please follow this link, if you are not already signed up, to subscribe to the DRIP newsletter. 

The image (right) shows the DRIP partners at the last in-person meeting, on a visit at the National Trust site in North Devon where river restoration will be taking place. 

There have been some exciting installations of Natural Flood Management measures across the Little Dart catchment. These interventions aim to slow the flow of water in the upper channel, to reduce the impact of flooding to communities downstream.

This image (right) shows a simple intervention called a leaky barrier, made of natural materials to slow the water flowing downstream, particularly in periods of heavy rainfall. 

We are excited to be supporting three PhDs at the University of Exeter and the University of Plymouth, who will be supporting the monitoring and evaluation work of DRIP. They will be studying the the hydrological and wider environmental benefits (carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity) of natural flood management, and the social science impacts of these interventions on communities. We have recently been on site with some of the PhD students to plan the baseline surveying and monitoring of natural flood management interventions that will be delivered soon.