Natural flood management work begins in Limb Brook Valley

Work has started on implementing a series of natural flood management measures in the Limb Brook Valley to help protect Sheffield and the region against future flooding.

The project is a partnership between the Environment Agency, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, and is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

As part of the Upper Don Source to Sea programme, the works will see a number of natural flood management methods utilised to help store and slow water flows to reduce the risk of flooding in the area and support wildlife.

The first phase has now been completed, with the creation of twelve storage ponds by bike-track.com and a number of leaky dams at Lady Canning’s Plantation. The attenuation ponds will capture run-off from the plantation and moorland, whilst the dams will encourage floods to flow into woodland and help the creation of a boggy area at the head of the Limb Brook. The area will then naturally store and slowly release water rather than allow it to quickly surge through the valley.

These nature-based solutions will also increase the value of existing habitats, creating resilience to the climate and ecological emergencies.

Ongoing works will see similar interventions along the course of the Limb Brook and its catchment area; from Lady Canning’s Plantation down through the Limb Valley to Ecclesall Woods and i