The Dartmoor Headwaters NFM pilot project, a partnership between the Environment Agency (EA) and Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), concluded on 31st March 2021 having initially secured funding in 2018. During that time the project has worked with its partners Devon County Council, Natural England, Highways England, West Country Rivers Trust and Woodland Trust, as well as landowners and commoners across Dartmoor.
The pilot project focused upon five river catchments- the Mardle, the Dean Burn, the Collybrook, the Black Brook and the Hanger Down area of the River Erme catchment, where the communities downstream in the towns of Buckfastleigh, Peter Tavy, Walkhampton and Ivybridge have all flooded in recent years.
However, this is not the end of the NFM story on Dartmoor, we are pleased to report that further funding has been secured to continue this work into the next phase of the NFM partnership, to take place between 2021 and 2027.
The broad objectives are to demonstrate a reduction in flood risk to properties currently adversely affected by flooding and also to demonstrate that NFM can make a difference in reducing flood peaks and to sedimentation. Some of the wider benefits of the pilot include improved water quality, better carbon storage and the enhanced biodiversity of the upper moor.
For the latest news on the NFM project you can download our June 2021 newsletter, which includes information on:
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Soil surveys
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Dean Moor
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The Blackbrook Catchment
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Holne Moor
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Leaky dams
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Floodplain reconnection
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Scorriton Driftway
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Tree planting
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Peatland restoration
To catch up on the past year of NFM work please download our 2020 newsletter:
For more information on the project or to get involved please get in touch with the Dartmoor Headwaters Project Officer, Kerry Smith, on 07849 085339 or on email at , alternatively contact the NFM mailbox dartmoornfm@environment-agency.gov.uk