Natural flood management scheme offers fresh protection for East Markham

The £15,000 natural flood management project has been funded and delivered by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Flood Risk Management team, with construction carried out by EMEC Ecology.

Working with a local landowner, the project has brought a previously buried stretch of watercourse back to the surface by removing an old culvert. The water channel has been reshaped with natural bends and curves to slow the flow of water, while new floodplain areas and a low-level earth bund (a gently raised bank made from compacted soil) will help hold more water during periods of heavy rainfall.

By slowing and storing water upstream, the scheme will help reduce the amount flowing towards the village at peak times. It will also create valuable pond and wetland habitat, providing a welcome boost for local wildlife.

The work follows repeated flooding in East Markham, including during Storm Babet in October 2023, when six properties were flooded internally and many more experienced flooding outside.

Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council said:

“Bringing the watercourse back into the open will not only help manage flood risk but also reconnect it more naturally with the surrounding landscape. The reshaped channel and new wetland areas will create valuable habitats for plants, insects and other wildlife, while helping to build a more resilient local environment for the future.”

The site will now be monitored to make sure the measures continue to work as designed. The findings will also help shape future natural flood management projects across Nottinghamshire.