Launch of New Rural Flood Resilience Partnership

A new partnership has been launched this month to support rural flood resilience and help farmers, landowners and communities adapt to extreme weather patterns.

The Rural Flood Resilience Partnership hopes to improve collaboration and support residents in building their resilience to flood risks and coastal erosion.

It is made up of six organisations, including industry groups such as the NFU and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

It comes as rural communities across the UK are increasingly on the frontline of extreme weather and the devastating impacts of flooding.

The wintyer of 2023/2024 saw one of England’s wettest periods since records began in 1836, which left many thousands of acres of farmland and pastureland under water.

The partnership has published a working plan covering 2024 to 2026, for work on actions and projects to improve their evidence base and co-develop solutions.

One of the primary focuses will be the need for farmers and landowners to have access to quality advice and support.

NFU vice president, Rachel Hallos said the partnership aimed to help farmers to strengthen the resilience of their homes and businesses by providing practical solutions.

“It will also give rural communities the means to influence decision making, provide access to resources and support action on the ground, strengthening rural resilience to flooding in a changing climate.”

CLA president Victoria Vyvyan added that the damage to rural land and businesses from flooding was ‘localised but acute’.

“The CLA hopes this partnership will provide the evidence, awareness of risks, and access to practical advice that will allow them to improve their resilience.

“This partnership will look for short and medium-term solutions whilst raising awareness of the rural-specific costs and challenges from flooding which our members face.”

The partnership consists of: Action with Communities in Rural England; the Association of Drainage Authorities; the CLA; the Environment Agency; the NFU; and Natural England.