Farmer and Landowner events and funding
Connecting the Culm has funds available from now until Spring 2022 to install Nature-Based Solutions on farms in the Culm Valley.
We have 2 events coming up where you can find out more about the funding available and join in a conversation about how to make the Culm landscape more resilient, reducing the risk of flooding downstream during heavy rain and helping retain water in times of drought.
Tuesday 8 June 11am – 2pm- site visit on land near Clayhidon where nature-based solutions are being carried out, with lunch provided.
Wednesday 9 June – online at 7pm
To attend either or both events please email: daniel@wrt.org.uk
Funding is available for operations including:
- Relieving soil compaction and restoring soil structure to reduce run-off
- Installing ‘leaky dams’ to slow flow on watercourses
- Tree planting on floodplain and other land
- Reconnecting channels and retention ponds on floodplains
- Creating buffer strips and new hedgerows to slow water flow off the land
- Creating earth bunds to hold water back
- Restoring bogs, mires and wetlands to help store water
Nature Based Solutions
Working with natural processes to improve the health and resilience of natural ecosystems
Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are actions that work with and enhance nature to help address societal challenges. The concept is grounded in the knowledge that healthy natural and managed ecosystems produce a diverse range of services on which human wellbeing depends.
Nature-based Solutions – an introduction.
How does soil work? And why does it matter so much to the way water works?
Viewpoints from landowners
Our Nature Based Solutions ‘Toolbox’
Here are all the different types of NBS that we can use to improve the health and resilience of the environment.
Improved soil structure retains more water, therefore improving the catchment’s resilience to drought. Also enables roots to go deeper allowing greater access to ground/soil water.
Results in increased water storage capacity, increased groundwater recharge, improving drought tolerance and increased interception reducing peak flows. Runoff from compacted soils can range as much as 50-60% higher than on aerated healthy soils.
Also results in increased worm and soil biota populations, improved conditions for soil fungus and improved carbon sequestration.
Allowing rivers to spill onto their natural floodplain during peak flows reduces flooding downstream. This also has potential to increased ground water recharge. Increased water storage capacity, increased groundwater recharge, increased infiltration reducing peak flows.
Benefits include reconnected floodplain wildlife habitat.
These slow the flow for extended periods, reducing flash flooding downstream.
Through coppicing, improving under-canopy thickness and allowing more natural decomposition, we can improve shading and soil condition. This results in increased water storage capacity, increased groundwater recharge, improving drought tolerance and increased interception reducing peak flows. It’s good for wildlife too, promoting more diverse woodland habitats.
Retains more ground water, can protect soil condition provided issues sorted prior to planting. Increased shading, water storage capacity and groundwater recharge, improving drought tolerance and increased interception reducing peak flows.
Also Improves carbon sequestration, habitat creation, wider available food source.
Increased water storage capacity, increased groundwater recharge, improving drought tolerance and increased interception reducing peak flows. (Mires may not reduce peak flows, but will improve low flows).
Also increases the amount of wetland habitat which is currently declining nationally.
Retains floodwater for longer, increasing opportunity for groundwater recharge.
Slows the flow peak flow and increases water storage.
Increased insect supply potentially improving birdlife.
Can slow the flow, creating dams that retain water. Increased water storage capacity, increased groundwater recharge, improving drought tolerance and increased interception reducing peak flows.
Retains floodwater for longer, increased interception. Improved soil condition.
Increased water storage capacity, increased groundwater recharge, improving drought tolerance and increased interception reducing peak flows.
Improved flora and fauna species.
Improved soil condition, increased shaded areas increased water interception. Increased overflow interception.
Increased habitat good for nesting birds, bats, also good food source for wildlife populations.
Improved infrastructure such as cow tracks can prevent further damage to soil etc. Other opportunities include rainwater harvesting to capture rainwater. Fencing off risk areas such as riverbanks/ buffer strips.
Impacts vary depending on the intervention.
Improved soil structure, improved root structure, Improved organic matter. Increased water storage capacity, increased groundwater recharge, improving drought tolerance and increased interception reducing peak flows.
Increased soil species and increased variety of cropping type improving insect populations.
Increased water capture, reduced runoff.
Habitat creation for pond dwelling species.
Slow the flow, retain water. Spreads the flow of water out of the ditch during high rainfall events slowing the travel time.
They also improve water storage capacity and slow the flow of water.
Latest news on NBS delivery
All the most recent updates from the Connecting the Culm NBS demonstration sites
Illustrating the Culm
Visualising the River Culm, its tributaries and the wider catchment has been something the CtC project has strived to do since day one. Here we've gathered together
Storying the Culm
Watch this page for storytelling content from our resident storyteller Clare Viner - COMING SOON! Quote
Creative Culm
Arts and crafts are as important as evidence for expressing our entanglements with nature, wildlife and watery environments. Through the Creative Culm initiative, the Connecting the Culm
News from the Future
Last month, in the company of our intrepid time-travelling guide, Rob Hopkins, and our fast-draw illustrator Richard Carman, we ventured into the unknown. In a series of
Water, wildlife & vegetation monitoring training & volunteering – getting outdoors in groups again!
Back in March we wrote about wildlife spotted in the Culm catchment and that we'd soon be able to share plans with you on how to get involved,
The Culm – a 50-year vision – Ellerhayes to Columbjohn
The National Trust and Westcountry Rivers Trust are working together to start the process of enhancing nature in the floodplain from Ellerhayes Bridge to Columbjohn on the Killerton