Any major government review of the nation’s flood defences following the wettest winter on record must not ignore the impact the storms have had on wildlife.
That’s the urgent plea made by Dr Gary Mantle, director of the Devizes-based Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, in the Spring edition of its magazine sent to supporters.
“Floods affect wildlife as well as people,” he declares. “Submerge fields can cause plants to rot and invertebrates and small mammals to drown. “Flood water can scour out silt trapped in river beds, which is good, but also bring unwanted pollutants and rubbish and wash top soil from the fields into the watercourse.
“The government has promised a full review of the nation’s flood defences. It is crucial this seeks to restore the natural function of floodplains.”
Dr Mantle points out that development, compacted soils, over-grazing, loss of woodland, dredging and deepening of waterways can all increase the risk of flooding to people and their properties downstream from the affected areas.
“And yet we continue to see major development proposals for river floodplains,” he protests. “With so many new houses to be built it is crucial that development proposals have adequate flood alleviation, retaining water rather than exporting it even more rapidly to our rivers.
“Our Wessex chalk streams project (it includes the Kennet) has been working on the River Avon to introduce meanders that retain floodwaters, restore river banks and floodplain meadows – all helping to safely slow the rush of water downstream – benefiting people and wildlife.”
