Craig Bennett, what a waste genetic material.

[swedish red]

The above named was on the radio 4 today program this morning to discuss biological net gain in relation to new housing developments.
At best this is smoke and mirrors, at worst it is deceiving and lying to the public.
What was even worse though, was that he couldn't resist having a pop at farmers, apparently we are to blame for all the recent flooding and for pollution of rivers, no mention of water companies releasing sewage.
It's not like he has an agenda or anything being CEO of the wildlife trusts.
I will be emailing him and the BBC.
Not holding my breath though.

 

[ollie989898]

Another tool in the hands of people to try and stop houses being built.

 

[Bramble]

Another tool in the hands of people to try and stop houses being built.

No houses and no food, what’s not to like about the next 20 years. Cardboard boxes and industrial gloop for all.

Probably shouldn’t make fun of it though

 

[Peter Irons]

Am I allowed to make the point that the future flooding problems for our country are to some/ a major extent in the hands of our farmers. Somehow we need to reduce the speed with which the rain on the hills get down into the valleys and the arable farming on which we depend. There are ways but it has to be done or there will be major difficulties building up every year in terms of food production and the markets for our farmers produce.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Am I allowed to make the point that the future flooding problems for our country are to some/ a major extent in the hands of our farmers. Somehow we need to reduce the speed with which the rain on the hills get down into the valleys and the arable farming on which we depend. There are ways but it has to be done or there will be major difficulties building up every year in terms of food production and the markets for our farmers produce.

How about dredging rivers & keeping water courses clear.

To avoid flash floods.

 

[farmer99]

There is now real anger in our village over blocked streams People are fed up with having sewage again coming out of the top of their septic tanks and klargesters.We always used to keep our stretch of stream clear but now we cannnot risk prosecution for clearing it out
When we explain why the EA stop us people are ,quite shocked! As well as the sewer issues 2 of the 3 roads out of the are regularly blocked

 

[Highland Mule]

Am I allowed to make the point that the future flooding problems for our country are to some/ a major extent in the hands of our farmers. Somehow we need to reduce the speed with which the rain on the hills get down into the valleys and the arable farming on which we depend. There are ways but it has to be done or there will be major difficulties building up every year in terms of food production and the markets for our farmers produce.

I don’t know about you, but when my toilet isn’t clearing it’s a plumber I’d call, not a urologist.

 

[Swarfmonkey]

There is now real anger in our village over blocked streams People are fed up with having sewage again coming out of the top of their septic tanks and klargesters.We always used to keep our stretch of stream clear but now we cannnot risk prosecution for clearing it out
When we explain why the EA stop us people are ,quite shocked! As well as the sewer issues 2 of the 3 roads out of the are regularly blocked

Nowt will change until senior EA staff start to feel the heat. By feel the heat, I mean when they can't leave their own homes without facing a pack of protesters.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Am I allowed to make the point that the future flooding problems for our country are to some/ a major extent in the hands of our farmers. Somehow we need to reduce the speed with which the rain on the hills get down into the valleys and the arable farming on which we depend. There are ways but it has to be done or there will be major difficulties building up every year in terms of food production and the markets for our farmers produce.

How? I’d love to hear your solution.

 

[robs1]

Am I allowed to make the point that the future flooding problems for our country are to some/ a major extent in the hands of our farmers. Somehow we need to reduce the speed with which the rain on the hills get down into the valleys and the arable farming on which we depend. There are ways but it has to be done or there will be major difficulties building up every year in terms of food production and the markets for our farmers produce.

While in theory that seems to be a good idea the problem is if you slow water up by blocking it's flow down hill it only works until the next rainfall, that just flows straight down, round our way in Wiltshire we had no serious flooding until recently when a small amount of rain caused the worse floods for many years as all the soil and aquifers were totally soaked so the rain ran straight into the rivers, if you allow the soil /uplands to drain between rain events it stops most flooding. Once a sponge is full it can't hold any more, the clever people don't seem to grasp that very simple fact . Interestingly we have had a marshy area up stream from us built on over the last five years, while many were worried that it might increase flooding it has actually reduced it due the fact that the water that falls on that area is now piped straight into our river and has gone before the rain that falls further upstream gets to us causing flooding. The way rain and rivers interact is very complicated and it isn't always the result you expect, it's often those who have lived in the area that know more than those with a degree how floods are caused in a particular area

 

[Peter Irons]

How about dredging rivers & keeping water courses clear.

To avoid flash floods.

Hi, you are correct Craig. to mention that...but horses for (water) courses

... For the rivers and watercourse on the flood plain that can be very important . I have lived next to the fens all my life, there most of the water problems are concerned with draining the water off the fields as fast as possibe an getting it away.
On the Somerset Levels the other year it was a major problem. However here in the Wolds of lincolnshire and all the higher ground from wherever the water flows to flood agricultural land by overflowing the watercourses on the flatlands what really matters is slowing down the flow into the flatlands. or through the various small floodplains in the valleys.
Rainfall events are going to get worse and more common. We all have to cooperate to achieve anything worthwhile. The government will not cough up and if they did it would probably for schemes, expensive to maintain and likely to be subject to lack of maintenance or error.. We need relatively low cost 'soft ' solutions. Must consider the bottom line in all this... Rewiggling ( let them rewiggle themselves in a widened route )and widening becks is cheap and long term....AND there is money for that! Call it biodiversity benefits! Let your imagination gop wild!
On Saturday, 13 January 2024, 12:06:01 GMT, The Farming Forum <[email protected]> wrote:

 

[Peter Irons]

How? I’d love to hear your solution.

The rainfall events are getting worse and so we can expect bigger floods in the main flood plains unless we reduce the peak mass flow down the streams and becks where the water is coming from. The only tool we have is to try and spread out the water progressing down the valleys to help reduce the overtopping in places like the Witham floodplain. SAll that water , well most of it, came off the hills If the fields had a higher Som it would help and if the becks were wider so the lateral flow rate was slower.

 

[Peter Irons]

Hi, you are correct Craig. to mention that...but horses for (water) courses

... For the rivers and watercourse on the flood plain that can be very important . I have lived next to the fens all my life, there most of the water problems are concerned with draining the water off the fields as fast as possibe an getting it away.
On the Somerset Levels the other year it was a major problem. However here in the Wolds of lincolnshire and all the higher ground from wherever the water flows to flood agricultural land by overflowing the watercourses on the flatlands what really matters is slowing down the flow into the flatlands. or through the various small floodplains in the valleys.
Rainfall events are going to get worse and more common. We all have to cooperate to achieve anything worthwhile. The government will not cough up and if they did it would probably for schemes, expensive to maintain and likely to be subject to lack of maintenance or error.. We need relatively low cost 'soft ' solutions. Must consider the bottom line in all this... Rewiggling ( let them rewiggle themselves in a widened route )and widening becks is cheap and long term....AND there is money for that! Call it biodiversity benefits! Let your imagination gop wild!
On Saturday, 13 January 2024, 12:06:01 GMT, The Farming Forum <[email protected]> wrote:

Also keeping the watercourses in the hills and clear of veg simply means the water gets into the main courses even fast and course more overtopping.

 

[Old apprentice]

Am I allowed to make the point that the future flooding problems for our country are to some/ a major extent in the hands of our farmers. Somehow we need to reduce the speed with which the rain on the hills get down into the valleys and the arable farming on which we depend. There are ways but it has to be done or there will be major difficulties building up every year in terms of food production and the markets for our farmers produce.

Just cut the rivers deeper that will shift the water to sea quicker.

 

[Peter Irons]

While in theory that seems to be a good idea the problem is if you slow water up by blocking it's flow down hill it only works until the next rainfall, that just flows straight down, round our way in Wiltshire we had no serious flooding until recently when a small amount of rain caused the worse floods for many years as all the soil and aquifers were totally soaked so the rain ran straight into the rivers, if you allow the soil /uplands to drain between rain events it stops most flooding. Once a sponge is full it can't hold any more, the clever people don't seem to grasp that very simple fact . Interestingly we have had a marshy area up stream from us built on over the last five years, while many were worried that it might increase flooding it has actually reduced it due the fact that the water that falls on that area is now piped straight into our river and has gone before the rain that falls further upstream gets to us causing flooding. The way rain and rivers interact is very complicated and it isn't always the result you expect, it's often those who have lived in the area that know more than those with a degree how floods are caused in a particular area

I agree it is very complicated. Each area needs more specific analysis. hr in the Lincolnshire Wolds each beck needs a different analysis. If you look at the JFLOW maps on the EA website. you can see where the old watercourse went and where there is an opportunity to create ponding areas or carrs to act as attenuating devices .There are zones where we have mini fens which cannot be treated the same way as where there is a substantial slope.

 

[Peter Irons]

Just cut the rivers deeper that will shift the water to see quicker.

In the wolds that would just dump the water on our side straight into the Witham floodplain...although there are bits where that would help when you have backing up problems. Also by the way the river Bain enters thee Witham and that is still affected by the tides at Bosten. Twice a daytime high tides prevent the water entering the wash and it all backs up the Witham and then up the Bain ....

 

[Peter Irons]

Nowt will change until senior EA staff start to feel the heat. By feel the heat, I mean when they can't leave their own homes without facing a pack of protesters.

 

[Highland Mule]

I agree it is very complicated. Each area needs more specific analysis. hr in the Lincolnshire Wolds each beck needs a different analysis. If you look at the JFLOW maps on the EA website. you can see where the old watercourse went and where there is an opportunity to create ponding areas or carrs to act as attenuating devices .There are zones where we have mini fens which cannot be treated the same way as where there is a substantial slope.

Here’s an idea - make the whole land area into an attenuation area. Drop the water table a foot or two and there’s a lovely big spread out area that can hold and release the rainfall over a few days of weeks.

Your trouble is that your models and thinking process is based on the premise that any rain that falls will immediately enter a watercourse. That’s false, if the land is drained, and is clouding your entire judgement.

 

[Peter Irons]

very few EA staff these days. cut right back.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Why does everyone over the last 10-15 years who offer advice about flooding always start talking about the uplands but never the lowlands?

The NRA always use to keep the lowland stuff in good order. Now it seems like it’s gone out of fashion now to the detriment of everyone?