Shropshire farmers hear flood resilience plans

By Hiyastar Newsroom

Farmers, landowners and rural businesses discussed future flood and drought resilience with the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme team at this year’s Shropshire County Show.

The team said more than 40 visitors spoke with staff at the show stand about the Demonstrator Programme, which is testing new approaches to water management across the Upper Severn catchment. The programme is managed by Shropshire Council and is looking at how joined-up water management, including working with natural processes, could reduce flood risk, improve drought resilience and support the wider environment.

County show talks with rural businesses

Pete Lambert, SVWMS Demonstrator Programme Manager, said the county show gave the team a route into direct conversations with the farming community.

“The Shropshire County Show is always an important date in the calendar for us. It gives us the chance to speak directly with the farming community, answer questions and hear first-hand about the challenges people are facing,” he said.

He added that the scheme is working with farmers and landowners across Shropshire and Powys as it explains the case for a more balanced, long-term approach to water management.

Dredging and natural flood management

One of the most common subjects raised at the stand was river dredging. The SVWMS team told visitors that large-scale dredging can look like a simple fix, but does not always reduce flood risk and can sometimes disconnect rivers from their floodplains.

Instead, the Demonstrator Programme is examining a mix of measures, including natural flood management, land use change and engineered solutions where they are suitable. Similar rural climate resilience work has also been discussed in other areas, including local habitat recovery planning.

Future Upper Severn strategy

Tom Dainty, Shropshire Council deputy Cabinet member with responsibility for flooding, said the show helped take the work into the farming community.

“The Demonstrator Programme is helping us explore practical, nature-based solutions that protect communities while supporting biodiversity and the rural economy,” he said.

The SVWMS team was joined by the National Flood Forum, which supports communities at risk of flooding. The scheme will continue public engagement in the coming months as it develops options for a future water management strategy for the Upper Severn.

Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom