Work begins on innovative flood management project in Lincolnshire
It's going to protect homes in three villages
The Environment Agency has started work on a natural flood management pilot project.
The million pound research and development project will use natural flood management techniques to hold back water to reduce the risk and severity of flooding to Swaton, Threekingham and Spanby.
The three villages currently have 25 homes and 38 businesses at risk of flooding.
Specialist Ponds
There will be 5 attenuation ponds across three farms.
These will have the capability to hold back approximately 22,000 m3 of flood water - the equivalent to 9 Olympic sized swimming pools.
Edge Swales
The grassed areas are 2 to 4 metre wide strips capable of intercepting water flowing over the land.
There will be 29 swales across the three farms which will be sown with wildflower seeds to boost benefits for pollinators.
They'll also have the capacity to hold back approximately 26,000m3 of flood storage water, the equivalent of another 10 Olympic sized swimming pools.
"So far we have constructed one pond and around 1.8km of swales"
Katharine Samms is a flood risk advisor for the Environment Agency.
"The project is one of the first natural flood management schemes to be installed in an arable landscape.
"More usually schemes are located on grazed land or in woodlands, so we are keen to see how well it will work.
"It has been a real pleasure to get involved in this unique project"
Barbara Rumble is Project manager at the Environment Agency.
"I am pleased we are able to see progress on the ground.
"I am looking forward to seeing the findings from the monitoring to see how effective the project is in reducing local flooding."