Landowners in Calderdale could benefit from a new round of funding to support the creation of natural flood management measures on their land.
Calderdale Council and the Environment Agency have launched the latest round of the NFM Grant Scheme, which aims to support farmers and landowners in implementing natural flood management (NFM) techniques.
Natural flood management includes a wide array of measures to effectively manage the landscape to help slow water flow and naturally manage flood risk. There are now over 120 sites in Calderdale which are being used for NFM.
The grant funding could be used to support NFM initiatives such as planting trees and hedgerows, installing leaky dams and creating attenuation ponds to temporarily hold back rainwater.
These activities are inspired by natural processes and support the temporary storage of water in the landscape, slowing its flow from the hillsides and reducing the flood risk downstream. During periods of heavy rain, this gradual release can help to avoid overwhelming drainage in towns like Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.
In addition to flood prevention benefits, NFM also provides habitats for wildlife, locks carbon in the land to combat climate change and creates healthier, more resilient ecosystems. It’s also a very cost-effective method of flood defence.
Those applying for the NFM Grant Scheme are able to access full support to design a scheme tailored to their land and assistance with the application process.
For more information about the grant scheme and natural flood management in Calderdale, visit: https://eyeoncalderdale.com/landowner-grant-scheme/(external link)
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, Cllr Scott Patient, said:
“In Calderdale, we are all too familiar with how disastrous flooding can be. The intense rainfall experienced in recent storms was a stark reminder of the risks faced by our communities and the reality of the climate crisis.
“Traditional flood defences, such as concrete walls and barriers are important, but we must also look at alternative ways to protect our communities. Natural flood management is about working with nature, supporting measures which can reduce the risk and impact of flooding.
“I’m delighted that we’re able to offer a further round of funding for landowners to help them implement natural flood management techniques on their land. This unique scheme helps to build Calderdale’s resilience to flooding and complements NFM work taking place across the catchment and the wider region.”
Jo Arnold, Calderdale Programme and Partnership Manager at the Environment Agency, said:
“Natural flood management plays a crucial role in protecting communities while enhancing the environment.
“This new round of funding provides a valuable opportunity for landowners in Calderdale to implement measures that reduce flood risk, support biodiversity, and create a more resilient landscape for future generations.”
Further NFM and climate resilience work taking place in the borough includes the innovative Landscapes for Water(external link) project, involving Yorkshire Water(external link), the National Trust(external link), White Rose Forest(external link) and others. This work aims to restore the landscape across the land owned by the project’s partners in the Upper Calder and Colne catchments, making the area more resilient to the dangers of climate change.
Reducing flood risk through natural flood management is part of the Climate Action Plan for Calderdale. This sets out how the borough will achieve ambitious net zero targets and protect our distinctive environment from the impacts of the climate crisis.
To find out more about the Calderdale Climate Action Plan, visit https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/environment/sustainability/climate-action-plan(external link). For regular climate action updates, sign up for the Zero Carbon Calderdale e-newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/calderdale/zerocarbon(external link)
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