Introduction

The Calder Valley is renowned for its flooding. There is a lot of water, the valleys are steep sided and carved by water.

But water obviously doesn’t start its journey at the bottom of the valley, but on the moors, right at the top of the fells. It is the responsibility of landowners from the very top, down the valley sides to help to keep water where it should be (in the bogs), and to try to slow the flow down towards the valley bottom.

This design looks at selecting which methods would work for our land and their implementation and maintenance

Ethics

Earth Care – Use sustainable materials, sourced on site, working with sensitive habitats, minimal disruption.

People Care – Using local organisations, keeping money in local economy

Future Care – Opening as a demonstration site, involving students, sharing case study, Regenerative and sustainable practices

Principles used to guide design

Mollison

Design Framework – GoSADIM

Goal, Survey, Analysis, Decision, Implementation, Maintenance

Client

Myself – a personal project

Dates

November 2022 – November 2024

Tools Used

Observation over time, Video evidence,

Resources Used

• Benjamin Fenton – Calderdale Council, Flood Risk Management Team
• The Permaculture Earthworks Handbook – Douglas Barnes
• https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/rp32-small-leaky-woody-dams
• https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/earth-banks-and-soil-bunds-rp9
• https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/219450/bank_protection_guidance.pdf
• https://www.therrc.co.uk/MOT/Final_Versions_%28Secure%29/4.1_Skerne.pdf
• https://www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/87529/Timber_Dams_Factsheet.pdf
• https://www.ydrt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NFM-Leaky-Dams-guide.pdf

Link to ALP & my personal objectives

I really want to improve my drawing skills, creating clear but colourful plans. This small scale design will enable me to be creative and practice these skills. I will be able to better understand how planting plans are created.

Goal

To create a plan to manage the flow of flood water using materials found onsite and without damaging fragile eco-systems and creating opportunities for creating different habitats.

Survey

The below videos shows a flood event (apologies for the dodgy videography). The water comes from springs and overflowing field drains on land above ours. It happens only once or twice a year, but the amount of water threatens to overload the large pond. This isn’t the worst it has been, but gives a good indication of the ‘average’ flood event.

There is a drain that flows under the field, and comes out into the open at the bottom of the slope.

It runs as a stream through the woods at the bottom before exiting into a drain under the neighbours field. The force of the water has caused deep erosion.

Over a few years I have observed the flow, and we have put in small scale emergency interventions and landscaping to stop it deluging the pond and direct it away from the house. The map below shows the direction of the flood run off water (Dark bliue lines), but also show the water that flows through a drain on our land.

Habitats that need protecting

My fields are home to rare, red list, grassland fungi. My priority is to protect these delicate habitats. As well as fungi, the fields are rich in wild flowers and other grassland plants.

Resources on site (or almost)

I have a woodland that needs trees thining. Many of the trees were planted very closely together, and are quite spindly, there is a mix of Hazel, Oak, Goat Willow Alder, Holly, Rowan and Birch. There are also 2 large Ash trees which have begun to show signs of Ash die back, and I need to cut them. Over the past 6 years I have been growing and coppicing Osier willows.

I have a neighbour with a mini-digger.

Analysis

I looked at different options open to me to slow the flow of water, and used a decision matrix to compare how each of them fitted into my needs:

	Minimal impact on land	Uses on site resources	Easy to maintain	Provides extra habitats for wildlife
Leaky Dams	X	X	X	X
Simple Scrape & Berm	X	X	X	X
Attenuation Ponds			X	X
Willow revetments	X	X	X	X
Fascines		X	X

Based on these findings, Leaky Dams will fit well into the stream, using

Check against Principles – Mollison

Work with nature rather than against it

The problem is the solution

Make the least change for the greatest possible effect

The yield of the system is theoretically unlimited

Everything gardens

Decision

Stacking Functions?

Implementation

Time Frames

Apply for Grant

Site Visits

Contractors –

Timescale restrictions – climate/seasonal

Who does what and when? Gannt Chart

Maintenance

Reflection