Drainage boards to share £100,000 in funding

Twelve local Internal Drainage Boards are to receive a share of £100,000 to invest in protecting wildlife and improvements which will reduce flood risk.

DEFRA has announced that the funding has been awarded to support innovative projects which protect communities or improve the local natural environment.

Environment minister Richard Benyon said: “Farmers, working with councils, play an important part in protecting and improving our communities.

“I have allocated almost £100,000 to help them continue that work by using innovative technical solutions to protect farmland from flooding, create new habitats for the country’s wildlife and preserve archaeological sites for the benefit of future generations.”

Grant funding amounting to £99,796 is being awarded to the 12 most innovative and effective applications from across the country.

There are four in Somerset, two in Nottinghamshire, two in Norfolk, two in Yorkshire & Humber, one in Bedfordshire and one in North Lincolnshire.

Projects include:

• The Ouse and Humber Water Management Partnership will receive £10,000 to improve land use in the Broomfleet Washland, near Goole in Yorkshire, increasing flood storage capacity and protecting habitats for local wildlife.

• Kings Lynn Internal Drainage Board will receive £12,800 to widen Smeeth Lode Drain and create new reedbed habitat.

• The Isle of Axeholme and North Nottinghamshire Water Level Management Board near Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire will receive nearly £5,500 to help improve efficiency and protect the habitats of vulnerable species in the area.

• The Parrett Drainage Board near Bridgwater in Somerset will receive £6,000 to install monitoring equipment to make sure water isn’t wasted and help create better conditions for aquatic wildlife. An additional £4,500 will be provided to install equipment to reduce flood risk in the region and make the irrigation of wetlands more efficient.

• The Laneham IDB will receive £10,000 to improve efficiency and help wildlife flourish in the Beckingham Marshes near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire.

• The Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board near Louth in Lincolnshire will receive £10,000 to undertake a study to help it make its water pumping stations more efficient.