Upper Wye Natural Flood Management Project
This project, led by the Wye & Usk Foundation (WUF) and funded by the Welsh Government’s Accelerator Growth Programme, is a major step in restoring the health and resilience of the Upper River Wye and supporting the farming communities that depend on it. Covering nearly 100km² of the Upper Wye catchment, the project will run from spring 2025 to March 2026, with a budget of approximately £250,000.
The focus is on Natural Flood Management (NFM) — working with nature and local farmers to slow water flow, store more water in the landscape, and reduce flood peaks. It will also explore how the land can deliver wider benefits like drought resilience, improved soil health, nutrient reduction, biodiversity gains and carbon storage — all part of building a new Catchment Market for environmental services.
Key goals include:
- Engaging 60 farmers to develop over 45 on-farm interventions.
- Demonstrating a measurable flood peak reduction of over 35 million litres/hour.
- Improving soils’ ability to absorb and store water.
- Involving local schools and communities in river education and soil health.
- Building financial models to attract future investment in land-based solutions.
The project will work closely with citizen scientists, local schools, and several partner initiatives to drive long-term catchment recovery and demonstrate how farming, flood resilience and river restoration can go hand in hand.
