 UPDATED 19th November 2024
- Whilst the NFM team will be at Thursday’s Rivers Conference, this is an invite only event due to the limited capacity of the venue. The Conference is bringing external partners together to understand the challenges the farming community are facing – we’d be grateful that you do not attend unless you had previously been specifically invited. Everyone will have the opportunity to watch the Conference as it will be filmed and uploaded to the council's website.
- Recruitment information has also been added for the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
This newsletter aims to update and inform people about the Herefordshire Natural Flood Management (NFM) project which is being delivered by Herefordshire Council within seven priority sub-catchments.
Autumn 2024 has already seen two major flood events hit Herefordshire, in both late September and the middle of October. The former of which, hit on the 20th of September after days of thunderstorms and rain, causing many roads and buildings to flood. While most areas received 50mm of rain, some farms recorded double this amount. During this event, more than 50 properties and businesses flooded.
 Flood water on a business estate in Leominster - October 2024
The week beginning the 14th of October brought heavy rain across Herefordshire, causing water levels of rivers and their tributaries to rise and cause flash floods. This was exacerbated by Storm Ashley, which hit the UK a week later. The recent flooding affected many homes, businesses, and schools across the county as well as a number of road closures, causing lengthy delays. The council urged people not to attempt to drive through flood water. Also highlighting that ignoring road closures and flood signs isn’t just risky - it can be dangerous.
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Herefordshire Council, Balfour Beatty Living Places and the Environment Agency have been trying to understand the impacts of the recent flood events. Understanding the extent of the flood damage can help us gather evidence and information to enhance our knowledge of the extent of the floods and may help us minimise flooding problems there in the future. Herefordshire's Local Flood Risk Management Strategy is available on the council's website and details its five main objectives e.g. ‘Objective 1: Understand Flood Risk in Herefordshire’. |
Each objective has multiple actions, including; communication improvements; promoting the role of Community Resilience Groups; and improving local flood warning systems and road closure information. The council also works closely with the Environment Agency to reduce the threat of flooding and help communities be better prepared for floods.
How can you prepare for and report flooding?
The week of 14th- 20th of October 2024 was Flood Action Week and highlighted the importance of households being prepared for flooding by signing up for flood warnings and understanding their long-term risk of floods. The importance of this action week was unfortunately highlighted by the severity of the recent floods. This year’s action week fell a year on from Storm Babet, which brought the heaviest 3-day period of rain in over 130 years. Unfortunately, as climate change alters weather patterns, the likelihood of storm events in the UK will increase dramatically, making 1 in 100 year floods the new norm. Floods can be very unpredictable and happen anywhere. It is not just main rivers and streams that cause floods, but poor drainage and surface runoff can cause flash flood events which are harder to predict. You can sign up to receive flood warnings on the Gov.uk website, to be notified of flooding in your area.
Herefordshire Council’s flood webpages and the Herefordshire BeFloodReady website, contain useful information and guidance on how to report and prepare for floods. By being prepared, it is possible to minimise the damage caused by flooding to your homes and businesses, reduce the risk to life by taking actions to keep everyone safe during and after a flood event and ensure you get access to the support you need to recover after a flood event.
 Flooding in Ivington - October 2024
One way in which some people are preparing for flooding is by fitting Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures to their properties. There are two types of PFR, resistance measures and resilient adaptation measures (also known as recoverability measures). Resistance measures such as flood doors and barriers create a physical barrier to the flood water, helping reduce the risk of flood water entering the property, making the property more ‘resistant’ to flooding. Resilient adaptation measures help to reduce the damage caused if flood waters do enter the property and include actions such as relocating or raising the level of boilers above flood levels and installing flood resilient flooring. More information about PFR can be found on the Herefordshire BeFloodReady website.
 The structure of the Herefordshire NFM team
Collaboration is the key to NFM. Here’s an insight into who’s working together to help deliver NFM and reduce the flood risk through the Herefordshire NFM project:
Herefordshire Council (Project Lead)
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Steve Hodges – Directorate Services Team Leader – Steve has been working in flood risk management in Herefordshire since 2007 and is the lead officer on flood risk management. This includes helping to identify and deliver wider flood risk management projects, as well as overseeing delivery of the Herefordshire NFM project. He is the main point of contact for local flood groups. This year, he has developed a Community Flood Signage Scheme which allows appropriately trained flood groups/communities to close roads within pre-identified locations when properties are at risk of flooding and/or to help protect motorists. In his free time, Steve is an avid football supporter. |
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Bethany Lewis (Beth) – NFM Project Officer – Joining Herefordshire Council in 2018, Beth is the NFM Project Officer for Herefordshire Council. Her role involves overseeing the Herefordshire NFM project helping ensure the project is delivered on time, to budget and successfully works with landowners and communities to deliver NFM measures that slow the flow and reduce flood risk. This also includes managing contracts and the NFM Construction grant scheme, ensuring best practice is adhered to, and working with and supporting Catchment Advisors. Beth studied Physical Geography BSc at Aberystwyth University and attained an MSc in Environmental Water Management at Cranfield University. She enjoys how the project has brought people together to reduce flooding using NFM and helping support the people who have been flooded. In her spare time, Beth is a Scout leader and enjoys walking and spending time outdoors. |
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Charlotte Abbott (Lottie) - Graduate NFM Officer – Recently graduating with a Geography BSc from the University of Nottingham, Lottie joined the project in October 2024 as the graduate NFM project officer. During her time at university, Lottie went to the Mount St Helens volcano and conducted research on the NFM measures they have installed to decrease flood risk downstream after the Volcano experienced an eruption in 1980. Seeing how effective these structures were made her want to work in this emerging area of flood management. She will be working alongside Beth, supporting her on the Herefordshire NFM project. In her spare time, she enjoys getting outside in nature and doing any water sports she can - just so she can go for a wild swim! |
Wye and Usk Foundation (WUF)
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Jonathon Pugh (Jonny) - Catchment Advisor - Within this position, Jonny provides core project management and delivery for Herefordshire based WUF projects particularly within the agricultural community to raise awareness, provide advice and implement land management to balance and benefit both the farm business and the environment. He works alongside farmers and contractors to design and implement nature-based solutions. Jonny also provides on-farm advice for Herefordshire Council’s NFM project. In his spare time, Jonny enjoys Skiing, walking and farming! |
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Tom Jolley - Catchment Advisor – Graduating with a BSc in Fisheries Science and an MSc in Fisheries Biology and Management, Tom’s work centres on advising and helping farmers and landowners with Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship schemes. He also provides advice on how they can get the most out of their land whilst ensuring a high environmental quality. He carries out environmental monitoring surveys to understand the biodiversity and soil and nutrient structure / content at sites he visits. |
Severn Rivers Trust (SRT)
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Jacob Loughran (Jake) - Catchment Advisor - Jake is a Catchment Restoration Officer with Severn Rivers Trust. Currently, he works on two priority catchments for NFM which flow into the River Teme. His role involves engaging with farmers and landowners to map out opportunities for recreating natural features like ponds and riparian woodlands to intercept and attenuate surface water and agricultural run-off before it reaches our brooks and rivers. He studied disaster management (BSc) and attained an MSc in Agroecology at university. Jake says the most rewarding part of the job is when the spades come out, trees go in, and the diggers are rolling and seeing how all of the collaborative hard work that goes into the projects, benefits the land and river’s ecosystems. When he’s not working, Jake enjoys wild swimming, foraging and getting out to fly drones. |
Steering Group
The mutli-agency Herefordshire NFM Project Steering Group meets on a quarterly basis and has oversight on the project. The group provides a forum for the sharing and dissemination of information on NFM, enabling members to access expertise in Herefordshire, share best practice and collaborate.
 Landowners
Landowners are at the forefront of our projects. Without them, NFM could not be successfully implemented across Herefordshire. Landowners work alongside our catchment advisors from WUF and SRT to plan and install different measures from our delegated grant scheme. Keep reading to see what these alliances and hard work have achieved since the project was launched!
Trees play a vital role within our landscapes, not only helping to slow the flow of water and reduce the flood risk to communities in Herefordshire but also delivering numerous environmental benefits including carbon capture and storage, soil structure and health improvements, and habitat creation to name a few. Through the River Wye and Lugg NFM Pilot project (2018 to March 2021) landowners within the seven NFM catchment areas planted a total of 4.78 ha of trees and to date a total of have been planted through the Herefordshire NFM project with more planting planned. These important trees are, however, under threat!
Trees are at risk of being damaged or killed by numerous pests and diseases, many of which are associated with non-native species being introduced to UK habitats, where there is no native predator, environmental factor, or host plant to limit their damage (Forestry Commission, 2020). Two of the main tree pests in the UK are deer and grey squirrel, with grey squirrel damage being especially prevalent within our NFM catchments over the past year.
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Grey squirrel and deer damage trees of all ages by browsing, bark stripping, and fraying for both behavioural and feeding purposes. This can create lesions and segments of trees completely stripped of bark, which can disrupt tree growth and make them more susceptible to disease. The photos (above /below) show some of the extent of damage that can be caused by these mammals. Whilst damage by livestock can often be solved with fencing, restricting access to deer and grey squirrel can be more challenging. |
Currently in the UK, grey squirrel trapping and shooting is a legal* and effective method of population control. When using squirrel traps, landowners must be aware that these must be checked every 24 hours, and any squirrels trapped but be humanely killed. More information on squirrel control can be found on the Forestry Research webpage. Other methods that do not involve killing squirrels include fertility control and natural deterrents. Squirrel deterrents can simply be smells or tastes they dislike such as capsaicin (found in chilli powder) or fox urine.
Some of the Herefordshire NFM Project team recently visited the Perrystone Estate in South Herefordshire to see how they are protecting their trees from deer and grey squirrels. Lucas Ashworth, the estate’s forest manager, shared the interesting ways in which they are controlling pests, including the use of a deer repellent, which is sprayed on trees. The solution, containing emulsified sheep fat, is innocuous to deer but merely deters them with a displeasing smell and taste. Trico® is a leading brand in deer repellent, which can be sprayed using a knapsack sprayer or a garden fence paint sprayer. |
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Each tub can protect up to 1,500 trees at around 10p/per tree and lasts approximately 6 months (deer deterrent can be funded through England Woodland Creation Offer grants), with the spray having no adverse effects on the quality of timber produced. The estate has found Trico® to be an effective way of deterring deer from browsing and fraying their vulnerable trees and are solely using this spray on their conifers.
As well as using traditional squirrel traps, the estate also uses remote squirrel traps, which send an email when it’s been activated, allowing a more targeted and efficient approach to checking traps. To directly protect the trees, they have used a range of plastic, cardboard, and biodegradable tree guards, with the plastic guards, in particular proving to be a cheap, yet effective way of protecting younger trees. The estate has committed to removing the plastic guards after use and re-using them or recycling them where possible.
*When done in accordance with UK gun laws
 Key statistics from the Herefordshire NFM project, as of November 2024
If you own land in one of the seven priority sub-catchments, you may be eligible for natural flood management grants. These grants aim to help landowners to maintain productivity, whilst reducing the impacts of flooding on their land and surrounding areas. Measures such as tree planting and leaky dam installations can also improve the biodiversity of your land, offering new habitats for many small mammals, amphibians and invertebrates. To see if you are eligible or need more information on how you can apply for one of our grants see the Herefordshire Natural Flood Management (NFM) Construction Grant Scheme guidance Guide.
Beckbury Village Hall, WwNP event - October 2024
On Wednesday 16th October 2024, some of the Herefordshire NFM Project team went to Beckbury, Shropshire to meet with other organisations interested in NFM and discuss best practice. The conference featured numerous presentations including ones by Gloucestershire County Council, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, the University of Gloucestershire, Environment Agency, Severn Rivers Trust and the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Chair, Matthew Riddle. The talks highlighted the importance of NFM not only as a means of flood control and protection, but also as an excellent method of river and riparian habitat restoration and as a tool to adapt to the threat of climate change.
Gloucestershire County Council discussed one of their NFM projects, in partnership with the Environment Agency and Forestry England, which is based in Cannop, in the Forest of Dean. This project, spanning km of forest near Lydney, has had multiple NFM measures implemented, including 1000 leaky dams and even the release of beaver! There is a proposed installation of a further 4000 leaky dams and 40,000 trees, which will help restore 74.5km of the river. The Forest of Dean has been degraded over time by human activities such as mining and timber production since the industrial revolution. This has led to a reduction in wetlands and wet-woodlands, modifications of the watercourse, and poor drainage – all common human impacts on these priority habitats. By restoring this section of forest, which makes up over half of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire County Council and its partners aim to ensure a long-term improvement in biodiversity and flood management.
 Beckbury Wetland Restoration - October 2024
The main event of the day was a visit to the Beckbury Fen, a recently restored wetland. The project, which was overseen by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Severn Trent Water, aimed to restore a significant section the River Worfe on the Apley Estate, subsequently improving its surrounding wetland. Some of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust team took the group on a tour of the newly restored wetland and explained the significant changes created throughout the project. The works aimed to restore the original channel of the River Worfe which had been redirected over time due to agriculture. By restoring the channel and rewetting the riparian zone, Shropshire Wildlife Trust hope that their efforts will reduce the impact of low flows, increase biodiversity, reduce diffuse pollution, and decrease flood risk. They aim to increase the number of bird species present, particularly those associated with wetlands such as lapwing, which are currently on the IUCN red list.
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Are you passionate about where you live? Are you concerned about flood risk management?
Do you want to…
- help in the fight against climate change and flooding
- learn new skills, gain experience and build your network
- make a real difference in your community
The English Severn and Wye Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) is looking for two new Independent Members to join them.
Committee Members have a vital role bringing Flood Risk Management Authorities together, helping to develop and implementing plans to manage flood and coastal risk across the West Midlands. This is an exciting voluntary opportunity to become a part of this work.
Applications are welcomed from talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds – it’s vital that RFCC members represent the true diversity of the communities they work with.
Formal qualifications for these roles are not a requirement, though an interest in certain specialities can help. It’s enthusiasm and commitment to the local community that is most important.
Previous events
We attended the Rural Business Advice Day on the 12th of November 2024 alongside the Wye and Usk Foundation.
Upcoming events - come and join us!
The NFM team will be at the Rivers Conference at the Shell Store in Hereford on the 21st of November 2024 – we’ve been asked to take part in this invite only event focusing on the quality of our rivers. We look forward to talking with those present and sharing how the NFM project is helping to reduce diffuse source pollution into our rivers.
Please note, this is an invite only event.
If you have any queries about the Herefordshire NFM Construction grant scheme please contact the Natural Flood Management Project Officer on 01432 260739 or email NFM@herefordshire.gov.uk
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