FWF - Upper Soar
Location
Farming for the Future in the Upper Soar, upstream of the City of Leicester
The first delivery project of the ‘Farming and Water for the Future Project’ is currently in its second year of work on the upper tributaries of the River Soar. Our Project Officer Andy Jackson is working with farmers to develop a number of farm-based schemes that can store water after rain. All projects are being developed in conjunction with landowners and compliment the existing management of the farm. Andy is targeting land on the Whestone Brook and the Broughton Astley Brook. These rivers have been selected as having the greatest potential to store water and slow down surface water flows that may reduce the risk of flooding to a number of properties downstream.
As well as reducing flood risk, the intention of the work is to achieve other environmental benefits at the same time. Most of the work developed is likely to form part of a Higher Level Stewardship grant from Defra to enhance the landscape, heritage and biodiversity value on the farm as well as provide a regular annual income. Where appropriate improvements for access to Rights of Way will also be generated where the farmers has an interest in doing so. The project has been designed around promoting ‘ecosystem services’, i.e. encouraging natural process on farms in a sustainable way that contribute to its wider environmental, social and economic impact.
This project is being funded by the Environment Agency and Leicestershire County Council. Please see the links on the top right of this page to download report from the first year, and the latest year 2 report.
If you would like to talk to Andy about the project then please email him on Andy.Jackson@leics.gov.uk or telephone him on 0116 3057221.
Schemes ready to go in South Leicestershire
The schemes include the creation of new ponds, construction of leaky barriers or weirs that will delay the flow of water downstream and tree planting to absorb and intercept water and provide important wildlife habitat. The schemes are planned to be delivered by the end of March 2013, however due to high levels of rainfall and flooding in the area there is a chance there will be some delays.
For the latest news on how the project has been progressing please read the 'Year 2 Interim Report' by clicking the link on the right of this page.
If you would like further details of what the schemes involve then please contact the Andy on 0116 305 7221.