⚠️ Archived Content
This page relates to the 2019–2024 National Park Management Plan, which is now archived. For the latest aims and objectives, please visit the 2025–30 Management Plan landing page.
Work with farmers and landowners to deliver landscape-scale natural flood management projects in the Aire, Eden, Ribble; Lune; Swale, Ure, and Wharfe catchments.
How the local partners are doing on this objective
Progress: Throughout 2024/25, the OuseWem project team has been identifying and contacting key landowners within the Widdale & Gayle beck target areas. Those introduced are now working with OuseWem team on current and future projects.
Over the lifetime of the Management Plan, a series of projects and schemes have taken place in all seven main catchments, involving a range of local partner organisations, including Rivers Trusts, Environment Agency, The Farmer Network, and the National Park Authority. In addition, advice to farmers on natural flood management, and funding to support the installation of leaky woody dams has been incorporated into the wider Catchment Sensitive Farming programme available across the whole National Park (see C3).
Press Releases & related articles:
14 November 2024 – Natural flood management reaches new heights on Brant Fell
29 March 2021 – Farmers see case for riverside tree-planting
16 November 2020 – Flood management brought into ELMs ‘test and trial’
Rationale: In recent years, rivers that rise in the National Park have contributed to flooding in towns and cities across the north of England. Within the Park, rivers cause localised disruption to transport and on farmland. There is now robust evidence that natural flood management measures – like reducing soil compaction – can help to reduce downstream flood peaks without significant impact on farming operations. Long-term progress, though, will depend on funding to maintain installed measures.
Lead partner: Environment Agency
Supporting partners: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority; Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust; Ribble Rivers Trust; Lune Rivers Trust; Eden Rivers Trust; Dales Farmer Network; Upper Aire Land Management Project; Leeds City Council; Cumbria Strategic Flood Partnership; Aire Rivers Trust; Natural England; Forestry Commission; National Trust; Moorland Association; Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
Further information: Natural Flood management; Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust
Cost over 5 years: £1,000,000
Funding shortfall: £500,000
Related objectives: A1; A8; C3; D1; D2; D3; E4; E9
Ecosystem services: Water Flow; Water availability; Water quality; Soil erosion; Soil quality
Trade-offs: Small scale Natural flood management measures are generally positive for other objectives. Bigger schemes (e.g. major woodland planting) could have impacts on landscape character (A3); habitats (C1); Species (C2) and farm businesses (E9). These impacts are mitigated and managed through a range of guidance and funding criteria, including the Woodland Siting and Design Guide.
Baseline: Landscape-scale projects underway in all catchments.