One of your Labour councillors on Ringwood Town Council, Peter Kelleher, proudly serves the local community as its voluntary flood warden, a role that has brought about great challenges in the past year. With large peaks in rainfall and extended periods without dry weather, the parish has seen flooding across all parts of the area, with roads, homes and open spaces all affected.

Following months of hard work gathering data and dealing with other local and national bodies, Peter managed to gather a group of ecological experts and a major landowner to discuss the role of natural flood defences within Ringwood and New Forest National Park.

On a crisp Friday morning this April, the group including the New Forest National Park Authority ecologist, a senior ecologist at Forestry England, local water course expert Dr Peter Street and Bisterne Estates owner Hallam Mills joined Peter on an area of the New Forest National Park managed by Forestry England with one objective in mind – the role of natural flood defences. These wetland ecosystems, such as mires, play a vital role in retaining water, preventing downstream flooding, and supporting biodiversity.

Despite the effectiveness of mires in managing excess water, there is no quick recipe for success. Forestry England faces limitations in expanding these mires due to privately owned land adjacent to the protected area (specifically, Hightown Hill and Crow Hill). The delicate balance between conservation and private land ownership rights presents a challenge.

The heart of the matter lies in collaboration. To enhance natural flood defences, Peter stressed the importance of engaging local landowners and farmers. By working together, they can create a harmonious solution that benefits both the environment and local communities. By getting landowners like Hallam involved, there is a real opportunity to showcase how the private, public and charitable sectors can work in collaboration. Networking is also very important, aided by the fact Hallam sits on the board of the Environmental Farmers Group, a farmer co-operative unlocking the potential of the natural capital market.

Freshwater Habitats Trust has been in discussions with some landowners, although their representative was unfortunately absent from the recent meet-up. An update on these discussions is eagerly awaited, as it could pave the way for more effective flood prevention strategies. Hampshire County Council are also part of this working group and Peter is also keen to get the Environment Agency involved in the process.

In addition to mires, the group discussed the introduction of “leaky dams.” These strategically placed structures allow water to flow through slowly, reducing the risk of sudden flooding downstream. Imagine a network of leaky dams complementing the existing mires—a perfect synergy for flood management.

The meeting was a success, fueled by the passion of all participants. They share a common goal: to alleviate the devastating impact of persistent and torrential rainfall. We hope that this is the start of something that can deliver real change in the area.

Peter said “I’m really grateful to everyone coming together to make a difference and for the hard work of Jo Hurd, Ringwood Town Council’s Deputy Town Clerk and the main contact on local flooding.”

As we navigate the challenges of climate change, it’s important that we work together, to protect our landscapes and safeguard our homes from the increasing risk of flooding. Having local champions like Peter working tirelessly to bring about change is a vital step forward.