Nature-based solutions support water management at Attingham Estate

Visitors to the National Trust’s Attingham Park are seeing some changes in nature and water management as work progresses on the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) demonstrator project.

The project is one of the SVWMS’ eight demonstrator projects, managed by Shropshire Council, to have received funding and will test approaches that aim to reduce flood risk within the upper River Severn catchment area.

By making changes including creating wetlands, restoring ghost ponds, and planting trees to slow the flow of water through the estate, land on the Attingham Estate has the potential to store an additional 22,000 cubic metres of water.

Jane Birch, who heads the Attingham Nature Recovery Project, said: “We saw quite an opportunity to store more water on the estate and slow the flow. By holding water back in the upper catchment, we hope to alleviate some of the impacts of flooding on towns and villages further downstream.”

To slow the flow of water, the project is installing a series of “leaky woody barriers”, which are simple structures built in ditches and streams. While each intervention is small, their collective effect across the estate is significant.

The nature recovery team works hand-in-hand with the estate’s tenant farmers to implement water management solutions that support both sustainable agriculture and nature recovery.

Jane added: “We want to ensure they can still run a sustainable farming operation, retain their productivity and income, whilst also allowing us to implement these nature-based solutions.”

The SVWMS demonstrator project at Attingham is setting an example for landscape-scale water management by reducing flood risk, enhancing biodiversity, and building a more resilient countryside.

Tom Dainty, Shropshire Council deputy cabinet member for the environment, added: “The SVWMS is tasked with creating a strategy to tackle flooding, water shortages, and land pressures across the upper Severn catchment. The demonstrator projects are proving the value of nature-based solutions and natural flood management opportunities.

“Doing lots of small interventions is where we’re going to really make an impact. We need to do this across the whole catchment, Shropshire and Powys, to see real benefits for flood risk and nature.”