Flooding: resilience and recovery
After a particularly hard, and consistently wet winter, many of our farmers found themselves with fields that had been under water since October 2023, and many others that had been waterlogged intermittently. This prolonged inundation can have big impacts on the ground, and so we felt there was a need to hold an event where we could take stock and discuss steps farmers can take to help their land recover. As these kinds of conditions are only going to become more regular with climate change, the low-lying Severn Vale is going to be one of the first places to feel the effects.
This event was hosted at Maismore Village Hall, where we spent the morning talking about the extent of flooding we had seen this year, and how we can start “futureproofing” ourselves. We touched a little on policy, and how farmers can feed up what they have been to relevant bodies, to help inform decision making in the area. The damage that this weather has had on breeding bird numbers, and other species that call the vale home, was also discussed. It was especially useful to have Mike Smart of Curlew action present, who talked about how Curlews have begun changing their nesting habits in response to this change in habitat, caused by flooding. Some have even begin nesting in arable fields, due to grasslands near the rivers being inundated.
After this, we watched a video provided by FWAG SW advisor Rachel Leonard, based in Somerset, about her work on “moor associations” and collaborative work agreements, and how these can help influence bodies in the local area, such as the Environment Agency. We also heard a video from Devon farmer James Leigh, and how he manages flooding on his farm, starting with his soils and getting them tested to inform changing management practices.
After some pasties from Over farm shop, we all piled into our cars and headed across the road to Persh Farm, owned by SVG member, Greg Chamberlayne. We were shown round by his very Knowledgeable farm manager, Richard Griffiths. Richard showed us some of the fields adjacent to the river that had been reverted from arable to grassland, and how they had been manging this to help improve resilience. With shovels out, we had a look at the soil for any signs of compaction and talked about ways to remediate this to improve drainage.
There was also some discussion on grass species, and how some are better adapted to flooding and waterlogged conditions, and can bounce back quicker after the water has drained away. One of our members, Colin Evers, very kindly provided a list of grass species found in the meadows of Walmore common (click here to view), where the fields are regularly inundated, with little permanent damage done to the grassland after it emerges from under the water. Even during summer flooding, and the resultant rotting biomass created seems to not have much of a long-term effect on the species rich community found there.
Thank you to all for attending, and for providing numerous points for the group to discuss.