Latest news with #SevernValleyWaterManagementScheme
Powys County Times
23-04-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Hundreds of trees planted in Powys for flood management
Around 400 woodland trees have been planted in the Guilsfield area to help manage flooding and serve as a wildlife habitat. Hundreds of mixed native woodland trees have bene planted by volunteers at Tirnewydd Farm, Guilsfield, through the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) demonstrator programme. The new woodland was planted on the site of a previous ancient woodland in the area and should serve as a wildlife habitat and natural flood management solution, as trees intercept overland flow from rainfall and direct water through their root systems to underlying soil, slowing down the transfer of rainfall in the valley. The Severn Rivers Trust, which is delivering the SVWMS project to use nature-based solutions to help a new water management strategy for the upper Severn, collaborated with staff from Shrewsbury firm SuperByte to plant the woodland. SuperByte's director and founder, Simon Russell, said: 'SuperByte's health and well-being environmental volunteering day went really well and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. 'There was some real pride in our effort knowing the woodland we helped to create will grow a valuable wildlife habitat and natural flood management solution.' The new woodland at Tirnewydd Farm was planted as part of one of the SVWMS' eight demonstrator projects, managed by Shropshire Council. The project is using natural flood management to reduce flood risk to a number of homes as well as the B4392 and A490 roads, as well as providing information on the economic benefits of soil and water management on rural land. The programme added that it has with landowners as part of the initiative to provide learning and information on the potential value of future environmental management within farm businesses. Severn Rivers Trust catchment officer Dewi Morris and catchment assistant Charlotte Davies oversaw the planting. Dewi said: 'SuperByte's staff had a great day out and quickly and efficiently planted a wonderful woodland fuelled by their enthusiasm, teamwork, and the hot drinks and loads of homemade cake.' Shropshire Council added that the results and learnings from the project will help develop the wider SVWMS, which will incorporate catchment-based approaches to reduce flood risk for up to 3,000 properties and 1,000 businesses across the upper and middle Severn
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
More than 1,100 trees planted through Shropshire flooding scheme
More than 1,100 trees have been planted around the Rea Brook in Shropshire as part of a flooding management scheme. Volunteers and contractors have planted specially selected species alongside the waterway as part of a Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS). The Rea Brook project aims to create nature-based flood management schemes that will be able to hold back water and enhance habitat and biodiversity. Severn Rivers Trust is delivering the scheme which will be managed by Shropshire Council. Cecila Young from the Severn Rivers Trust said: "It's particularly vital for trees to be allowed to grow alongside rivers, the backbone of the landscape, to deliver multiple benefits."Trees planted along rivers and across sloping land can absorb extra water and mitigate flooding, they can intercept heavy rainfall, reducing the speed at which surface runoff reaches the river, and the underground networks created by tree roots contribute to higher infiltration rates of soils. "Water that is absorbed into the soil recharges aquifers, rather than running into rivers and potentially causing floods."Volunteers planted a total of 1,132 trees over three sites in the Bellis, Shropshire Council's drainage and flood risk manager, said: "The SVWMS Demonstrator Programme is delivering initiatives that will make a real difference to water management in the Upper Severn catchment area."It will report its data to inform the wider SVWMS strategy which seeks to develop a holistic approach to water management in the catchment, ensuring resilience for local communities and those further downstream." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flooding a ticking time bomb
The chief executive of an agricultural showground said flooding is a "ticking time bomb" and called for more to be done to prevent it. Ian Bebbington said the West Mid Showground in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, had suffered five major floods in the last 10 years and it was costing thousands of pounds to repair the damage each time. The Severn Valley Water Management Scheme, a partnership between organisations including the Environment Agency and Shropshire Council, called a meeting in the town on Wednesday to discuss the issue of flooding. Mr Bebbington said he wanted housebuilding on flood-plains to be looked at and more dredging of rivers. He said the showground was "a huge asset to Shrewsbury" and that "they'll only miss it when it's gone". His team is preparing to clean up the site, to get it ready for more events in the spring, including the 150th year of the Shropshire County Agricultural Show. But he said it might come to a point where it was more cost-effective to clear the site and run it without any facilities. Asked what message he wanted to send to the meeting in Shrewsbury, he said there needed to be an acknowledgement that flooding was getting worse. He said: "It's just like a volcano, we've had the warnings and we're going to get the big one." David McKnight, from the Environment Agency, agreed the situation was becoming worse. "I think sadly we've seen a real shift, an increase in the frequency and the type of flooding over the past five or so years," he said. Reacting to floods was becoming "more and more challenging" he added, and he explained the water management scheme was looking for new solutions. He said that would still include defences which were built by organisations but also "nature-based solutions" such as planting more trees and creating more flood plains and holding pools. Mr McKnight added, while dredging always came up at meetings like the one in Shrewsbury, "it doesn't necessarily reduce flood risk in the way we might want it to". He said it was "part of a whole toolbox" rather than the solution to the problem but it was also "not always economically viable". Mr McKnight said he hoped there would be a good turn out to the meeting at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, to hear what people's priorities were. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Huge milestone approaches for agriculture show 'Abnormal becoming normal' as flood clean-up begins County show returns in full after pandemic West Mid Showground Severn Valley Water Management Scheme
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flooding a ticking time bomb
The chief executive of an agricultural showground said flooding is a "ticking time bomb" and called for more to be done to prevent it. Ian Bebbington said the West Mid Showground in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, had suffered five major floods in the last 10 years and it was costing thousands of pounds to repair the damage each time. The Severn Valley Water Management Scheme, a partnership between organisations including the Environment Agency and Shropshire Council, called a meeting in the town on Wednesday to discuss the issue of flooding. Mr Bebbington said he wanted housebuilding on flood-plains to be looked at and more dredging of rivers. He said the showground was "a huge asset to Shrewsbury" and that "they'll only miss it when it's gone". His team is preparing to clean up the site, to get it ready for more events in the spring, including the 150th year of the Shropshire County Agricultural Show. But he said it might come to a point where it was more cost-effective to clear the site and run it without any facilities. Asked what message he wanted to send to the meeting in Shrewsbury, he said there needed to be an acknowledgement that flooding was getting worse. He said: "It's just like a volcano, we've had the warnings and we're going to get the big one." David McKnight, from the Environment Agency, agreed the situation was becoming worse. "I think sadly we've seen a real shift, an increase in the frequency and the type of flooding over the past five or so years," he said. Reacting to floods was becoming "more and more challenging" he added, and he explained the water management scheme was looking for new solutions. He said that would still include defences which were built by organisations but also "nature-based solutions" such as planting more trees and creating more flood plains and holding pools. Mr McKnight added, while dredging always came up at meetings like the one in Shrewsbury, "it doesn't necessarily reduce flood risk in the way we might want it to". He said it was "part of a whole toolbox" rather than the solution to the problem but it was also "not always economically viable". Mr McKnight said he hoped there would be a good turn out to the meeting at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, to hear what people's priorities were. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Huge milestone approaches for agriculture show 'Abnormal becoming normal' as flood clean-up begins County show returns in full after pandemic West Mid Showground Severn Valley Water Management Scheme
BBC News
29-01-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Flooding a 'ticking time bomb' warns West Mid Showground CEO
The chief executive of an agricultural showground said flooding is a "ticking time bomb" and called for more to be done to prevent Bebbington said the West Mid Showground in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, had suffered five major floods in the last 10 years and it was costing thousands of pounds to repair the damage each Severn Valley Water Management Scheme, a partnership between organisations including the Environment Agency and Shropshire Council, called a meeting in the town on Wednesday to discuss the issue of Bebbington said he wanted housebuilding on flood-plains to be looked at and more dredging of rivers. He said the showground was "a huge asset to Shrewsbury" and that "they'll only miss it when it's gone".His team is preparing to clean up the site, to get it ready for more events in the spring, including the 150th year of the Shropshire County Agricultural he said it might come to a point where it was more cost-effective to clear the site and run it without any what message he wanted to send to the meeting in Shrewsbury, he said there needed to be an acknowledgement that flooding was getting said: "It's just like a volcano, we've had the warnings and we're going to get the big one." David McKnight, from the Environment Agency, agreed the situation was becoming worse."I think sadly we've seen a real shift, an increase in the frequency and the type of flooding over the past five or so years," he to floods was becoming "more and more challenging" he added, and he explained the water management scheme was looking for new said that would still include defences which were built by organisations but also "nature-based solutions" such as planting more trees and creating more flood plains and holding McKnight added, while dredging always came up at meetings like the one in Shrewsbury, "it doesn't necessarily reduce flood risk in the way we might want it to". He said it was "part of a whole toolbox" rather than the solution to the problem but it was also "not always economically viable".Mr McKnight said he hoped there would be a good turn out to the meeting at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, to hear what people's priorities were. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
