New flood prevention project could be rolled out across Lincolnshire
It's being trialled around three villages
A new flood prevention project, being trialled around three villages in Lincolnshire, could be rolled out across the county.
As we revealed yesterday, the work sees ponds and grassy areas on farmland used to hold back water at Swaton, Threekingham and Spanby.
It's hoped it'll protect 25 homes and 38 businesses.
WATCH: Katharine Samms shows us around the site.
Katharine Samms is a flood risk advisor for the Environment Agency.
"They've already identified areas where we can start putting in more natural flood management."
"We're also looking at restoring floodplains in areas of fenland.
"It's so beneficial, not just for flood risk, but also for wildlife, soils and carbon.
"Something's can be quite low cost, low tech and be really beneficial with very little impact on the farms.
"So far we have constructed one pond and around 1.8km of swales"
"The land they wanted to take is my worst land, it hangs wet, it's a struggle to farm"
Thomas Infield is a local farmer who's given up some of his land to allow the defences to be built.
"I didn't really think it was a scheme for me because I didn't I was a big enough farmer to have any input into the scheme.
"I didn't think I'd have any affect on it at all.
"But when they explained to me in a lot more detail, they made it clear that I would have an impact."
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.