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Aerial view of Cairn beck site illustrating the impact re-wiggling work and scrape additions.
Cairn Beck river restoration site, February 2021

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Cairn Beck NFM project

The project has shown how multiple, different natural flood management (NFM) measures can work together at a catchment scale. A 5km reach of connected NFM measures and habitat improvements has been created along the Cairn Beck river. These NFM measures have improved biodiversity and in-stream habitat, led to better water quality, increased carbon sequestration and created shelter for livestock.

Overview

Part of project: Natural flood management

This project started in August 2018 and was completed in March 2021. The project involved identifying and implementing natural flood management (NFM) measures throughout the Cairn Beck catchment. The project was funded through the EA as part of the national Defra NFM project.

To start off with the project involved scoping and landowner engagement to identify suitable NFM options and the development and implementation of the monitoring strategy to measure the effectiveness of these measures, including the installation of rain gauges and water level measuring devices.

Challenge

Since Storm Desmond, interest has grown in finding other ways to reduce the risk of flooding to properties, rather than just relying on traditional flood defences.
 

We have received funding from the Environment Agency, through the Defra Natural Flood Management funds, to help address flooding issues.
 

Recently, with support from the North Pennines AONB Partnership, we received funding through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme for the capital works at Townfoot.
 

We are using Natural Flood Management (NFM) measures in Cumrew and Warwick Bridge – two communities in the Cairn Beck catchment that have been identified as being at risk of flooding.

Approach

We’re using a mix of computer modelling, farm walkovers and landowner engagement to determine the most beneficial places for NFM measures that also have agricultural benefits.
 

Agreed measures will be installed and monitored over a three year period to understand their impact in reducing the risk of flooding to households in Cumrew and Warwick Bridge.

Completed

  • 8 new leaky dams constructed

  • Modification of 15 leaky dams installed in 2016

  • Re-meandering 200m section of straightened river

  • 3 NFM/biodiversity ponds built

  • 1.63km of kested hedgerows planted

  • 1.7km riparian buffer strips planted

  • 4 full farm walkovers were completed with options identified and agreed for buffer strips, hedgerows, ponds, tree planting, ditch barriers.

  • A couple of farmers have chosen to go into Countryside Stewardship schemes as a result which will include NFM measures.

  • An event was held for 18 farmers in the area (funded by the Farmer Network)

Cairn Beck September 2019

Ponds with drainage channels were created to hold water temporarily during heavy rainfall, then allow the water to trickle back into the main channel over time. Ponds are also great for otters, water voles and birds. 

Leaky dams

8 leaky dams were installed on Newbiggin Beck and we modified 15 leaky dams that we installed in 2016 in order to improve their performance as NFM measures.

Riparian buffer strips

A total length of 1.7km of riparian buffer strips have been installed at 4 different sites. Riparian buffer strips have many multiple benefits from improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity and habitat as well as NFM benefits.

Ponds

3 ponds have been created holding a total of 116m3 of water. The ponds provide NFM benefit as have the capacity to fill up during high rainfall events and slowly drain away enabling water to be held back in the landscape. Additionally, the ponds have great habitat benefit.

Low level view of a leaky dam illustrating its effectiveness at slowing water and dissipating its energy.
'Leaky dam'
View looking along a section of riparian buffer strip. A metal fence and tree guards providing protection for a line of newly planted saplings.
Riparian buffer strip
Aerial view of two natural flood management ponds excavated at Cumrew.
NFM ponds at Cumrew

River restoration

We completed a river restoration project which involved restoring a section of 200m straightened channel to re-instate meanders, bars, riffles and pools along with secondary and tertiary channels and ponds. This has created more storage of water on the floodplain as well as slowing the flow of the water in the channel. The new channel has been very successful in high rainfall events enabling more water to be stored and slowing the flow travelling downstream.

Kested hedges

A total of 1.63km of kested hedgerows have been created at 3 different sites. Kested hedges help reduce the volume of runoff in the fields down to the river by intercepting surface-water flows, rainfall and promoting infiltration to the soil.

Aerial view of Cairn beck site illustrating the impact re-wiggling work and scrape additions.
Cairn Beck river restoration site February 2021
View looking down the line of a newly planted kested hedge. Young saplings with tree guards bounded on each side by metal fencing.
'Kested' hedge

Monitoring

The monitoring aspect of the project is critical in understanding the success of these measures, building knowledge of their effectiveness and supporting future NFM work. This includes:

Leaky dams site:
Four water level measuring devices have been installed at the leaky dams site:

  • Two bracketing the entire site i.e. one at the upstream end and one at the downstream end of the series of leaky dams
  • Two on one leaky dam i.e. one directly upstream and one directly downstream of one dam

Plus a tipping bucket rain gauge to record rainfall events.

Additionally, a PhD and an undergraduate student from Newcastle University are carrying out their research projects on this site.

Re-meandering site:
Two water level measuring devices at the upstream and downstream ends. Students from the University of Salford will be assessing the difference in hydrographs and typography from drone surveys.

Project partners

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