Latest news with #TrentRiversTrust
The Star
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
A fluid solution: British towns harness nature to combat rising flood risk
In a stream near Leicester in central England, six volunteers in waterproof overalls and boots busily reinforced mini wooden structures designed to combat the rising flooding threat. The city, like many others in Britain, has experienced several intense rainfall events in recent years, which have caused significant damage. Alert to climate change, which intensifies these events, authorities are strengthening their defences and turning to solutions more sympathetic with the environment. With their feet firmly planted on the bed of the Saffron Brook, a tributary of the River Soar that runs through Leicester, the volunteers ensured the structures' wooden bundles were securely anchored. These structures create bends that "change the behaviour of the river" and slow down water in stretches where it currently flows "straight and very fast", said Dan Scott, who leads the programme at the Trent Rivers Trust, a local group working to protect rivers. He regularly oversees the installation of new facilities. An aerial view of volunteers constructing a natural flood management feature on the Saffron Brook. A few months ago, the trust dug a pond on a river near the town of Loughborough and installed dozens of leaky wooden barriers to better protect downstream houses that flooded in the past. These techniques are "complementary to traditional flood defences" such as retention basins and canals that are increasingly under strain, Scott said. They "help to store some of that water upstream so that those traditional flood defences don't get overwhelmed, and if they do, it's not as quickly as if these features weren't in place," he added. They also help to maintain biodiversity. A natural flood management feature is pictured on the Saffron Brook. 'Urgent problem' More than 6.3 million properties are at risk of flooding in Britain, and this figure will rise to more than eight million by 2050, according to a recent government report. "Flooding is a really urgent societal problem," said Steven Forest, director of the Flood Risk Management Program at the University of Hull. Climate events resulted in Britain insurance payouts of more than £400mil (RM2.3bil) in 2022 and more than £570mil (RM3.3bil) in 2023 and 2024, half of which was related to flooding, according to the Association of British Insurers. Beyond traditional defences, "we need to think about living with water, and we need to think about integrating water within our urban spaces", Forest added. He cited the Netherlands, which allocates space for rivers to drain during heavy rainfall, and the United States, where vegetation "buffer zones" were created after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. "Straight-jacketing" waterways with various infrastructure is no longer sufficient, Forest said, especially since 7% of such structures were assessed to be in "poor" or "very poor" condition by the UK Environment Agency in 2022. Scott, project lead for the Trent River Trust, regularly oversees the installation of new facilities. Overcoming scepticism But convincing residents and authorities is not always an easy task as it often needs explaining that "just because we've not built a concrete solution, that it isn't going to be as effective", Scott said. "It's also about re-educating people in government because it's easier for them to sell something (to voters) that's physical and much more prominent within the landscape," he added. Traditional developments attracted the lion's share of the £2.6bil (RM14.9bil) announced by the government in March to fund new flood defence systems over the next two years. But Scott noted a greater interest in natural flood management over the past five years, with the previous government launching a £25mil (RM143mil) programme last year. As a result, Leicester will be able to develop several waterways southeast of the city, and 35 other projects have been selected in England. "It is encouraging that our successful approach to natural flood management measures is continuing to be supported," Geoff Whittle, a local councillor responsible for the environment, said. Contemplating the fruits of her labour in Saffron, 50-year-old volunteer Lis Gibbs said that "it feels like you can make a difference", in contrast to climate change in general, which "can feel really overwhelming". – AFP
Japan Today
16-05-2025
- Climate
- Japan Today
UK towns harness nature to combat rising flood risk
By Marie HEUCLIN In a stream near Leicester in central England, six volunteers in waterproof overalls and boots busily reinforced mini wooden structures designed to combat the rising flooding threat. The city, like many others in the UK, has experienced several intense rainfall events in recent years, which have caused significant damage. Alert to climate change, which intensifies these events, authorities are strengthening their defenses and turning to solutions more sympathetic with the environment. With their feet firmly planted on the bed of the Saffron Brook, a tributary of the River Soar that runs through Leicester, the volunteers ensured the structures' wooden bundles were securely anchored. These structures create bends that "change the behavior of the river" and slow down water in stretches where it currently flows "straight and very fast," said Dan Scott, who leads the program at the Trent Rivers Trust, a local group working to protect rivers. He regularly oversees the installation of new facilities. A few months ago, the trust dug a pond on a river near the town of Loughborough and installed dozens of leaky wooden barriers to better protect downstream houses that flooded in the past. These techniques are "complementary to traditional flood defenses" such as retention basins and canals that are increasingly under strain, Scott said. They "help to store some of that water upstream so that those traditional flood defenses don't get overwhelmed, and if they do, it's not as quickly as if these features weren't in place," he added. They also help to maintain biodiversity. More than 6.3 million properties are at risk of flooding in the UK, and this figure will rise to more than eight million by 2050, according to a recent government report. "Flooding is a really urgent societal problem," said Steven Forest, director of the Flood Risk Management Program at the University of Hull. Climate events resulted in UK insurance payouts of more than £400 million ($532 million) in 2022 and more than £570 million in 2023 and 2024, half of which was related to flooding, according to the Association of British Insurers. Beyond traditional defenses, "we need to think about living with water, and we need to think about integrating water within our urban spaces," Forest added. He cited the Netherlands, which allocates space for rivers to drain during heavy rainfall, and the United States, where vegetation "buffer zones" were created after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. "Straight-jacketing" waterways with various infrastructure is no longer sufficient, Forest said, especially since seven percent of such structures were assessed to be in "poor" or "very poor" condition by the UK Environment Agency in 2022. But convincing residents and authorities is not always an easy task as it often needs explaining that "just because we've not built a concrete solution, that it isn't going to be as effective," Scott said. "It's also about re-educating people in government because it's easier for them to sell something (to voters) that's physical and much more prominent within the landscape," he added. Traditional developments attracted the lion's share of the £2.6 billion announced by the government in March to fund new flood defense systems over the next two years. But Scott noted a greater interest in natural flood management over the past five years, with the previous government launching a £25 million program last year. As a result, Leicester will be able to develop several waterways southeast of the city, and 35 other projects have been selected in England. "It is encouraging that our successful approach to natural flood management measures is continuing to be supported," Geoff Whittle, a local councillor responsible for the environment, told AFP. Contemplating the fruits of her labour in Saffron, 50-year-old volunteer Lis Gibbs told AFP that "it feels like you can make a difference," in contrast to climate change in general, which "can feel really overwhelming". © 2025 AFP
Malay Mail
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Malay Mail
With floods on the rise, one English city is turning to beavers' wisdom and wooden barriers
LEICESTER, May 12 — In a stream near Leicester in central England, six volunteers in waterproof overalls and boots busily reinforced mini wooden structures designed to combat the rising flooding threat. The city, like many others in the UK, has experienced several intense rainfall events in recent years, which have caused significant damage. Alert to climate change, which intensifies these events, authorities are strengthening their defences and turning to solutions more sympathetic with the environment. With their feet firmly planted on the bed of the Saffron Brook, a tributary of the River Soar that runs through Leicester, the volunteers ensured the structures' wooden bundles were securely anchored. These structures create bends that 'change the behaviour of the river' and slow down water in stretches where it currently flows 'straight and very fast,' said Dan Scott, who leads the programme at the Trent Rivers Trust, a local group working to protect rivers. He regularly oversees the installation of new facilities. A few months ago, the trust dug a pond on a river near the town of Loughborough and installed dozens of leaky wooden barriers to better protect downstream houses that flooded in the past. These techniques are 'complementary to traditional flood defences' such as retention basins and canals that are increasingly under strain, Scott said. They 'help to store some of that water upstream so that those traditional flood defences don't get overwhelmed, and if they do, it's not as quickly as if these features weren't in place,' he added. They also help to maintain biodiversity. The trust dug a pond on a river near the town of Loughborough and installed dozens of leaky wooden barriers to better protect downstream houses that flooded in the past. — AFP pic 'Urgent problem' More than 6.3 million properties are at risk of flooding in the UK, and this figure will rise to more than eight million by 2050, according to a recent government report. 'Flooding is a really urgent societal problem,' said Steven Forest, director of the Flood Risk Management Program at the University of Hull. Climate events resulted in UK insurance payouts of more than £400 million (RM2.27 billion) in 2022 and more than £570 million in 2023 and 2024, half of which was related to flooding, according to the Association of British Insurers. Beyond traditional defences, 'we need to think about living with water, and we need to think about integrating water within our urban spaces,' Forest added. He cited the Netherlands, which allocates space for rivers to drain during heavy rainfall, and the United States, where vegetation 'buffer zones' were created after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. 'Straight-jacketing' waterways with various infrastructure is no longer sufficient, Forest said, especially since seven percent of such structures were assessed to be in 'poor' or 'very poor' condition by the UK Environment Agency in 2022. Overcoming scepticism But convincing residents and authorities is not always an easy task as it often needs explaining that 'just because we've not built a concrete solution, that it isn't going to be as effective,' Scott said. 'It's also about re-educating people in government because it's easier for them to sell something (to voters) that's physical and much more prominent within the landscape,' he added. Traditional developments attracted the lion's share of the £2.6 billion announced by the government in March to fund new flood defence systems over the next two years. Leaky dams which form part of a natural flood management scheme at Beacon Hill near Loughborough. — AFP pic But Scott noted a greater interest in natural flood management over the past five years, with the previous government launching a £25 million programme last year. As a result, Leicester will be able to develop several waterways southeast of the city, and 35 other projects have been selected in England. 'It is encouraging that our successful approach to natural flood management measures is continuing to be supported,' Geoff Whittle, a local councillor responsible for the environment, told AFP. Contemplating the fruits of her labour in Saffron, 50-year-old volunteer Lis Gibbs told AFP that 'it feels like you can make a difference,' in contrast to climate change in general, which 'can feel really overwhelming'. — AFP
Asharq Al-Awsat
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UK Towns Harness Nature to Combat Rising Flood Risk
In a stream near Leicester in central England, six volunteers in waterproof overalls and boots busily reinforced mini wooden structures designed to combat the rising flooding threat. The city, like many others in the UK, has experienced several intense rainfall events in recent years, which have caused significant damage. Alert to climate change, which intensifies these events, authorities are strengthening their defenses and turning to solutions more sympathetic with the environment. With their feet firmly planted on the bed of the Saffron Brook, a tributary of the River Soar that runs through Leicester, the volunteers ensured the structures' wooden bundles were securely anchored. These structures create bends that "change the behavior of the river" and slow down water in stretches where it currently flows "straight and very fast," said Dan Scott, who leads the program at the Trent Rivers Trust, a local group working to protect rivers. He regularly oversees the installation of new facilities. A few months ago, the trust dug a pond on a river near the town of Loughborough and installed dozens of leaky wooden barriers to better protect downstream houses that flooded in the past. These techniques are "complementary to traditional flood defenses" such as retention basins and canals that are increasingly under strain, Scott said. They "help to store some of that water upstream so that those traditional flood defenses don't get overwhelmed, and if they do, it's not as quickly as if these features weren't in place," he added. They also help to maintain biodiversity. 'Urgent problem' More than 6.3 million properties are at risk of flooding in the UK, and this figure will rise to more than eight million by 2050, according to a recent government report. "Flooding is a really urgent societal problem," said Steven Forest, director of the Flood Risk Management Program at the University of Hull. Climate events resulted in UK insurance payouts of more than £400 million ($532 million) in 2022 and more than £570 million in 2023 and 2024, half of which was related to flooding, according to the Association of British Insurers. Beyond traditional defenses, "we need to think about living with water, and we need to think about integrating water within our urban spaces," Forest added. He cited the Netherlands, which allocates space for rivers to drain during heavy rainfall, and the United States, where vegetation "buffer zones" were created after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. "Straight-jacketing" waterways with various infrastructure is no longer sufficient, Forest said, especially since seven percent of such structures were assessed to be in "poor" or "very poor" condition by the UK Environment Agency in 2022. Overcoming skepticism But convincing residents and authorities is not always an easy task as it often needs explaining that "just because we've not built a concrete solution, that it isn't going to be as effective," Scott said. "It's also about re-educating people in government because it's easier for them to sell something (to voters) that's physical and much more prominent within the landscape," he added. Traditional developments attracted the lion's share of the £2.6 billion announced by the government in March to fund new flood defense systems over the next two years. But Scott noted a greater interest in natural flood management over the past five years, with the previous government launching a £25 million program last year. As a result, Leicester will be able to develop several waterways southeast of the city, and 35 other projects have been selected in England. "It is encouraging that our successful approach to natural flood management measures is continuing to be supported," Geoff Whittle, a local councilor responsible for the environment, told AFP. Contemplating the fruits of her labor in Saffron, 50-year-old volunteer Lis Gibbs told AFP that "it feels like you can make a difference," in contrast to climate change in general, which "can feel really overwhelming".
Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
UK towns harness nature to combat rising flood risk
Several UK towns have experienced intense rainfall events in recent years, which have caused significant damage. PHOTO: AFP LEICESTER - In a stream near Leicester in central England, six volunteers in waterproof overalls and boots busily reinforced mini wooden structures designed to combat the rising flooding threat. The city, like many others in the United Kingdom, has experienced several intense rainfall events in recent years, which have caused significant damage. Alert to climate change, which intensifies these events, the authorities are strengthening their defences and turning to solutions more sympathetic with the environment. With their feet firmly planted on the bed of the Saffron Brook, a tributary of the River Soar that runs through Leicester, the volunteers ensured the structures' wooden bundles were securely anchored. These structures create bends that 'change the behaviour of the river' and slow down water in stretches where it currently flows 'straight and very fast,' said Mr Dan Scott, who leads the programme at the Trent Rivers Trust, a local group working to protect rivers. He regularly oversees the installation of new facilities. A few months ago, the trust dug a pond on a river near the town of Loughborough and installed dozens of leaky wooden barriers to better protect downstream houses that flooded in the past. These techniques are 'complementary to traditional flood defences' such as retention basins and canals that are increasingly under strain, Mr Scott said. They 'help to store some of that water upstream so that those traditional flood defences don't get overwhelmed, and if they do, it's not as quickly as if these features weren't in place', he added. They also help to maintain biodiversity. 'Urgent problem' More than 6.3 million properties are at risk of flooding in the UK, and this figure will rise to more than eight million by 2050, according to a recent government report. 'Flooding is a really urgent societal problem,' said Dr Steven Forrest, director of the Flood Risk Management Program at the University of Hull. Climate events resulted in UK insurance payouts of more than £400 million (S$689 million) in 2022 and more than £570 million in 2023 and 2024, half of which was related to flooding, according to the Association of British Insurers. Beyond traditional defences, 'we need to think about living with water, and we need to think about integrating water within our urban spaces', Dr Forrest added. He cited the Netherlands, which allocates space for rivers to drain during heavy rainfall, and the United States, where vegetation 'buffer zones' were created after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. 'Straight-jacketing' waterways with various infrastructure is no longer sufficient, Dr Forrest said, especially since seven percent of such structures were assessed to be in 'poor' or 'very poor' condition by the UK Environment Agency in 2022. Volunteers construct natural flood management features on the Saffron Brook in Leicester on April 24. PHOTO: AFP Overcoming scepticism But convincing residents and the authorities is not always an easy task as it often needs explaining that 'just because we've not built a concrete solution, that it isn't going to be as effective', Mr Scott said. 'It's also about re-educating people in government because it's easier for them to sell something (to voters) that's physical and much more prominent within the landscape,' he added. Traditional developments attracted the lion's share of the £2.6 billion announced by the government in March to fund new flood defence systems over the next two years. But Mr Scott noted a greater interest in natural flood management over the past five years, with the previous government launching a £25 million program in 2024. As a result, Leicester will be able to develop several waterways south-east of the city, and 35 other projects have been selected in England. 'It is encouraging that our successful approach to natural flood management measures is continuing to be supported,' Mr Geoff Whittle, a local councillor responsible for the environment, told AFP. Contemplating the fruits of her labour in Saffron, 50-year-old volunteer Lis Gibbs told AFP that 'it feels like you can make a difference', in contrast to climate change in general, which 'can feel really overwhelming'. AFP Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
