Measures
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Grassland Subsoiling
Compaction in grassland reduces the infiltration of rainfall, increasing the risk of run-off and flooding, and adversely affects water quality. Amelioration of soil compaction will help to improve water filtration and nutrient use.download factsheet
Grassland Slitting
The surface of grassland can become compacted as a result of extended grazing in inappropriate ground conditions or overstocking. Sward slitters or aerators can alleviate shallow compaction caused by livestock poaching or surface capping, in turn improving water infiltration and helping to increase grassland productivity.download factsheet
Maize Management
Late harvest of forage maize can present a high risk of soil damage and can result in reduced infiltration and increased risks of run-off, flooding and diffuse pollution. Selecting earlier maturing varieties can allow a larger working window after harvest to address compaction and implement measures to reduce the likelihood of runoff over winter.download factsheet
Buffers to Intercept Run-Off
Buffers are uncropped areas in fields designed to intercept and slow the flow of run-off and soil from the cultivated/farmed area. They can be used anywhere where they are likely to slow run-off, including at the bottom of sloping fields, at the edge of fields where high-risk crops such as maize, potatoes or other root crops are grown, or placed across a sloping field to help break up the slope.download factsheet
Cross-Slope Hedge Planting
Hedges planted across a slope provide a physical barrier to field run-off, improve infiltration and uptake of water and reduce soil erosion as roots help bind the soil.download factsheet
Cross-Slope Hedge Planting on Banks
As well as the other NFM benefits planting hedges on banks can provide more of a physical barrier to slow field runoff. If you are in a part of Somerset where this is a common landscape feature, this may be a good option.download factsheet
Cross-Slope Woodland Planting
Planting areas or strips of woodland across slopes can help to intercept run-off pathways to slow the flow, and helps bind the soil to reduce erosion. Areas of woodland can also increase nutrient uptake to help reduce nutrient losses to watercourses and can provide increased habitat diversity once these have established.download factsheet
Restoring Cross-Slope Hedges
Sometimes it can be more appropriate to improve or enhance existing hedgerows over planting new ones. This measure provides opportunities to suggest improvements to your existing hedgerows such as gapping-up or coppicing which will improve their runoff interception. Existing hedges must be located across slopes to provide maximum NFM potential.download factsheet
New Grassed Shallow Ditches
New grassed shallow ditches (also known as swales) can help to reduce the quantity of water, suspended sediment, nutrients, and pesticides transported through surface run-off. These ditches will collect surface water run-off or lightly contaminated water from flow paths in fields. The collected water will slow and settle out along the ditch and infiltrate into the ground, helping to slow the flow during heavy rainfall.download factsheet
Runoff Ponds
Runoff ponds will capture runoff and allow it to slowly drain during dry weather, reducing flooding downstream by allowing gradual infiltration of water into the soil. These ponds should fill up during periods of wet weather, but otherwise remain dry or with a low permanent level of water. These are not directly connected to streams but may have an outlet to allow the slow release of water.download factsheet
Filter Fences
Filter fences are semi-permeable structures used to hold back, slow and filter run-off. They can be sited within or at edges of fields and can be used for high erosion risk crops or on bare soils over winter.download factsheet
Flow Spreaders
Flow spreaders are an NFM measure designed to redirect and disperse flows into a wider area to allow more infiltration. They can be used on runoff flow pathways to help slow the flow and can be combined with other measures such as runoff ponds.download factsheet
Leaky Dams
Leaky dams are a green engineering option for natural flood management. They are leaky structures made from logs and branches, which mimic naturally fallen trees. They ‘Slow the flow’ by holding back and spreading water onto the floodplain when the stream level is high in flood conditions, but not affecting normal flow conditions.download factsheet
