Page 63 - Discovery Guide

Natural Flood
Management
Brackenhurst Farm, Tosside
This FiPL project supported two phases of work, valued at almost £30,000, to scope out and create ‘large leaky’ dams using locally felled trees; slowing the flow of floodwater on Skirden Beck and its tributaries to provide natural flood mitigation and habitat creation.
Delivered by the Ribble Rivers Trust, the project has also reduced erosion of the riverbanks and enhanced biodiversity
by creating new habitats for insects
and fish. Volunteers worked alongside professional arborists to create six large dams from bundles of brash and felled trees which were then secured in place in the beck.
The scoured pools that form immediately downriver of the dams provide rich habitats for aquatic insects and create refuges for fish fry, potentially boosting the beck’s fish populations.
These dams mimic natural obstructions caused by fallen trees in the water course. After heavy rain, these dams slow the flow rate, retaining much of that water
“We see enormous potential to extend the scope of the scheme and are talking to a number of neighbouring farmers about installing up to 13 more leaky dams within the catchment.”
Amanda Bowater, from Brackenhurst Farm, said: “As a nature lover, the creation and maintenance of wildlife habitat is important to me, so to be able to combine this with reducing the impact of erosion to the pastures is amazing.
“I see changes every day at the river and the flooding of the last few weeks has really shown the leaky dams in action, slowing and spreading the flow, and creating habitats for wildlife.
“I’m loving the focus on protecting this area’s fantastic landscape and it’s nice
to feel that - thanks to FIPL funding – we have made an environmental difference for future generations.”
in the floodplain and wet woodland. The water is then slowly released, reducing the flooding impacts downstream.
Ribble Rivers Trust project manager, Guy Mason, said: “We’re essentially replicating the work that beavers would do naturally as ecosystem engineers and the data
we have collected has provided strong evidence that the dams are working to mitigate flooding.
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