3 July 2025

The National Trust is implementing a Natural Flood Management (NFM) project in Windermere to reduce flood risk and enhance climate resilience. This is a project that came out about in response to the flooding caused by Storm Desmond in 2015 that affected local housing and community.

Across Common Farm and High Lickbarrow Farm in Windermere the conservation charity plans to create approximately 30,000 m3 of water storage. This will be achieved through creating ponds and wetlands to slow the flow of water in to Mill Beck, which flooded part of Windermere town in 2015. The work will also increase biodiversity, creating new habitats and supporting the High Lickbarrow Mire SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). Once established, the ponds will act as sources of drinking water for cattle on the farm. wetlands are also excellent at carbon sequestration, storing more carbon per hectare than woodland.

Water monitoring stations and rain gauges are being used to assess the project’s success by tracking water levels, flow rates, pH, phosphate, and turbidity alongside physical assessments of the river banks, vegetation and wildlife.  The data is being shared with the Environment Agency and the Rivers Trusts to help shape future NFM projects across the country.

National Trust Project Officer, Hannah Haydock, says:

‘Natural flood management is all about increasing the amount of water which can be stored upstream of flood risk areas and slowing the flow of that water into the main rivers. By restoring wetlands, planting trees and creating ponds we are working with nature to help protect areas that have suffered flooding in the past.’

This project is funded by the Environment Agency’s Natural Flood Management Programme. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/natural-flood-management-programme

Find out more about the wider conservation work taking place in Windermere on the National Trust website. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/windermere-and-footprint/our-work-in-windermere