Case study: water storage in the Naddle

One major project in the Naddle area has seen a large pond and embankment created in spring 2020 to temporarily store water after storms. The pond holds 3000m³ of water and the embankment can hold back a further 4,600m³ before gradually draining between storm events. This project was made possible by a landowner offering 3.7 hectares of unproductive agricultural land which sits just above the Naddle floodplain.

Water storage area in the sunshine (November 2021)

As well as contributing to natural flood management efforts, the pond has significantly increased biodiversity in the area. It features a large island for nesting birds and clean gravels to provide nesting habitat for lapwing and oystercatchers. The area has been seeded with wildflowers which have attracted bees and other pollinating insects. Red deer stag, roe deer, fox, brown hare, toads, dragonflies and damselflies have also all been spotted.

This water storage area is a really exciting example of a project aiming to help both communities downstream and wildlife. In the right place, storing a large volume of water after storms will contribute to efforts to reduce peak levels downstream which cause flooding. Meanwhile, the site is looking fantastic and is attracting a wide range of species. Huge thanks to contractor, Gary Cannon and partners, the Environment Agency. Funded through Defra’s Natural Flood Management fund.

The pond from above (Sim Reaney)