Natural Flood Management (“NFM”) means taking action to manage flood risk by protecting, restoring and emulating the natural regulating function of catchments, rivers, floodplains and coasts and DEFRA have instigated a NFM scheme on the Pipp Brook upstream from Westcott as one of its research projects.

The overarching objectives of the project is to: reduce flood risk; improve habitats and increase biodiversity; and reduce evidence gaps and increase knowledge of NFM interventions. This will be achieved by enhancing the natural processes of slowing the water flow and providing increased flood storage in the upstream section of the catchment. The project will also enhance biodiversity by restoring wet woodland habitat.

The project team has identified several NFM techniques that can be implemented in order to meet the programme and project objectives. These include log and debris dams, offline storage, ephemeral ponds and invasive species removal. These interventions are spread across 20 sites along the upper Pipp Brook and have an estimated cost of £305,000.

The construction activities taking place between 1 August and 30 September 2019.