Dorset National Landscape is leading a major project to reduce flood risk across the Brit catchment, covering Beaminster, Netherbury, and Bridport. By using natural solutions, we aim to manage flooding, support Bridport’s flood defences, and enhance local wildlife habitats.

We have secured funding from the Environment Agency’s Natural Flood Management (NFM) Programme, with support from partners including West Dorset Wilding and Dorset Wildlife Trust. The project is worth £654,500 and will run until March 2027.

• Lower flood risk for homes and businesses in Beaminster, Netherbury, and Bridport
• Reduce the need for costly sediment removal from Bridport’s flood defences
• Improve water quality and create better habitats for wildlife
• Involve local people in monitoring and caring for our rivers

• Landowner Partnerships: Agreements are in place with all 33 landowners, and all necessary consents have been secured.
• Monitoring: Hydrometric equipment has been installed at 27 sites to collect vital water data.
• Early Actions: We have already delivered 1.5km of leaky dams, two in-field ponds, three hectares of land use change, and half a hectare of floodplain reconnection.
• Community Involvement: Seventeen volunteers have been trained to monitor water quality, and a new Landscape Lab supports detailed analysis.
• Expert Support: The University of Exeter’s Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) is leading data analysis, with Hydro International managing hydrometric monitoring.

Flooding is a serious issue for our communities. The Environment Agency operates a flood defence scheme in Bridport, but heavy rainfall and surface water runoff still pose risks, especially when the ground is saturated. Sediment build-up behind the defences is also costly to manage.

By working with nature, we can slow the flow of water, reduce sediment entering our rivers, and make our catchment more resilient to extreme weather.

Over the next two years, the project will:

• Reconnect four hectares of floodplain: Lowering riverbanks to allow water to spread naturally and be stored in wetlands, scrapes, and ponds.
• Install 15.5km of leaky dams: Slowing water flow and trapping sediment throughout the catchment.
• Change land use on three hectares: Converting arable and intensively managed grassland to semi-natural grassland and wetlands to store excess rainfall.
• Create two in-field flood storage areas: Small bunds to hold back water on high-risk flow routes.
• Monitor progress: Combining professional equipment and citizen science to measure the effectiveness of these natural solutions.

We welcome community involvement throughout the project. Volunteers play a key role in monitoring water quality and helping us understand the benefits of these natural interventions.

If you would like to get involved or have questions about the project, please contact Ian Rees at ian.rees@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

This project is a Dorset Wild Rivers partnership project between Dorset National Landscape, West Dorset Wilding, and Dorset Wildlife Trust. It is supported by the Environment Agency through their Natural Food Management Programme.