Powys County Council have secured £676,728 from the Welsh Government’s Natural Flood Management Accelerator Programme.
The two-year programme aims to deliver nature-based flood management solutions in flood risk areas, and follows the work already carried out under the previous Natural Flood Management programme 2020-23.
The funding will be used across four different schemes throughout the county:
The Upper Teme Natural Flood Management 2 scheme £200,000
This scheme is being progressed by the Severn Rivers Trust (SRT) and is a continuation of the good work achieved under the 2020-23 Natural Flood Management (NFM) programme. Working with landowners, the utilises a large range of NFM including leaky woody dams, the creation of scrapes, bunds and ponds, the planting of cross-slope hedges and trees and introduction of riparian woodland. All will provide benefit on reducing flood risk in the catchment, with a primary focus on Knighton.
SiOL (Solving Intractable Land-use issues) project £191,728
Led by the Wye and Usk Foundation (WUF), the SiOL project is split into two packages:
In the Onnau Fach (Llangattock) package the WUF are working with the local Community Flood Group to look at installation of various NFM measures, such as leaky woody dams, leaky boundary walls, ponds, cross-slope hedgerows and woodland planting, etc.
In the Upper Usk package the WUF are working with landowners in the Nant Bran and Ysgir tributaries to undertake a study exercise which will influence what NFM interventions could be introduced in the future, along with informing landowners what Sustainable Farming Scheme options they could apply for.
Catchment Scale Leaky Woody Dam Scheme £85,000
Delivered by Tirweddau Cymru Landscapes Wales, the scheme will work with landowners to trial low-risk, low-cost leaky wooden structure interventions at various sites in Powys, subject to community agreement. The aim is to boost skills and awareness around NFM installation for the communities in those areas.
Nant Abel and Afon Cain NFM scheme £200,000
This scheme is also being progressed by the SRT and is an extension to work completed under the Sustainable Management Scheme. A wide range of measures are planned to include leaky barriers, tree planting, hedgerows and wetland. The focus is on benefiting communities like Llanfyllin and Llanfechain.
Welcoming the news of the grant allocation, Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, said:
“We are all aware of the devastating effects of flooding, and are looking forward to working collaboratively with partners and communities to find practical, sustainable, nature-based solutions to reduce the flood risk across Powys.
“The Natural Flood Management work, whilst providing benefit in flood risk management terms, also supports wider environmental enhancements through the introduction of new and improved wildlife habitats and more sustainable land management practices in our rural areas.”
