£1bn Lost — Time to Let Rivers Meander and Wetlands Work.
- rkpeach
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
DEFRA announced that UK farmers lost £1.19bn in income from arable crops last year after extreme wet weather drove a significant drop in barley, wheat, and oilseed rape yields.
With growing concerns, we could be facing another failed or reduced harvest after the driest spring on record for 100 years. It is clear our landscapes need long-term resistance, not short-term recovery. It is the time to let the rivers meander and wetlands work.
That’s where solutions where we work with nature come in. After more than 20 years, Florida's Kissimmee River has been restored with its wetlands being re-established after being an ecological disaster. Not only has it seen benefits with wildlife returning and increasing, the restoration projects add 100,000 acre-feet of water storage helping it prevent flooding.
Inspired by Oregon's successful "Stage Zero" river restoration technique, the Holnicote Estate Project in Somerset was started. Here they reconnected a section of River Aller to its floodplain creating seven hectares of waterscapes and wetlands on completion. In just 18 months, it has shown its benefit and climate resilience by holding back flood waters with its increased ability to store water. Not only have they seen an increase in wildlife and its diversity, further downstream they have seen a reduction in levels of fine sediment. This helps reduce the impacts of diffuse pollution from agriculture.
According to the recent announcement, North Northumberland is reinstating a 1km section of River Breamish’s meandering river system on the Harehope Estate which will increase wildlife and reduce the risk of flooding. This includes breaching embankments which allows the river to reconnect with its floodplain, creating shallow ponds and new wetlands.
Along with river restoration projects, it is crucial we restore wetlands too. In February 2025 the National Trust in Dorset reintroduced Beavers back into the English Landscape for their Purbeck Beaver Project. Beavers play a vital role in our river and wetlands systems. They will help rejuvenate our wetlands and bring an abundance of ecological benefits. The lake is the ideal habitat for Beavers being surrounded by swamps and woodland. While they fell trees and branches, they will attract butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians and birds with more light being let into the woodland.
Ousewem is in partnership with farmers and land owners across North Yorkshire. They are working together for an innovative project which is harnessing nature-based solutions to support both agriculture and wildlife, while also helping to reduce flood risk. Just one of their projects is estimated to enhance habitats/biodiversity, strengthen soils while supporting farming sustainability and 317m3 of effective modelled water storage.
From recently completed to upcoming projects present to us that wetlands and rivers are allies against climate losses as we are rebuilding and establishing nature's defences.
Sources
Kissimmee River
River Aller
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/somerset/bossington/stage-0-one-year-on
River Breamish
Purbeck Beaver Project
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/spyway/beaver-fever-hits-purbeck
Ousewem North Yorkshire Project