Landmarc delivers practical natural flood management solutions that work with natural processes to slow, store and manage water within the landscape. From leaky dams and wetland creation to floodplain restoration, tree planting and natural water-retention features, we help landowners, developers and organisations reduce flood risk while creating wider benefits for biodiversity, water quality and habitat.
Natural flood management (NFM) uses natural processes to help reduce flood risk by increasing infiltration, storing water and slowing flows. Rather than relying solely on conventional hard engineering, NFM can complement existing flood protection measures and provide wider environmental benefits. Landmarc delivers practical NFM solutions designed around the characteristics and needs of each site.
Our natural flood management work can include leaky dams, wetland and pond creation, floodplain restoration, swales, water-retention features and habitat restoration. These measures can be used individually or combined to help reduce the speed and volume of runoff, slow flood peaks and create temporary areas for water storage. Where appropriate, projects can be planned as part of a catchment-based approach, considering how water moves through the landscape from source to downstream areas.
NFM can provide benefits beyond flood-risk reduction, including improved biodiversity, enhanced wetland and river habitats, better water quality, reduced erosion and increased landscape resilience. Landmarc combines environmental understanding, practical construction experience and specialist plant and equipment to deliver projects safely and efficiently. From initial planning and site preparation through construction and ongoing management, we provide an end-to-end service tailored to the objectives of each project.
Natural Flood Management can provide more than flood-risk reduction and environmental improvement — it may also create an opportunity for landowners to generate private income from land that is suitable for habitat creation.
Where an NFM project creates or enhances qualifying habitats, there may be potential for the resulting biodiversity improvements to contribute towards Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). In the right circumstances, biodiversity units can be made available to developers who need to meet their BNG obligations, creating a potential long-term income stream for the landowner.
Landmarc can help landowners explore the practical potential of their land for NFM and habitat creation, including wetlands, floodplain restoration, woodland, grassland and other natural features. We can work alongside the appropriate ecological and BNG specialists to ensure that projects are designed, constructed and managed with the relevant biodiversity requirements and long-term obligations in mind.
Could your land generate an income through NFM and BNG?
If you own or manage land that could be suitable for natural flood management, habitat creation or biodiversity enhancement, speak to Landmarc to discuss the opportunities.
Landmarc provides practical natural flood management services for landowners, estates, developers and organisations. We can design and deliver measures such as leaky dams, wetlands, ponds and scrapes, swales and floodplain, selecting solutions that suit the site and its environmental objectives.
Natural flood management uses natural processes to help reduce flood risk. The main principles are to increase infiltration, store water and slow flows. Measures can be implemented across a catchment so that water is managed from source through to downstream areas. NFM is intended to complement, rather than completely replace, conventional flood engineering where both approaches are appropriate.
Depending on the site, Landmarc can deliver leaky dams, natural water-retention features, wetlands, ponds and scrapes, swales, floodplain restoration and habitat restoration. Measures can be combined to provide greater flood-risk and environmental benefits.
Leaky dams are designed to slow the movement of water through small watercourses and drainage channels. They allow normal flows to continue while temporarily holding back higher flows, helping to reduce the speed of runoff, trap sediment and create small areas of water storage. Landmarc can install natural log and timber structures where they are suitable for the site.
As well as helping to reduce flood risk, NFM can improve biodiversity, create and restore wetland habitats, improve water quality, reduce erosion and provide wider environmental benefits. Some measures can also support carbon storage, particularly where peatland and wetland habitats are restored.
Not always. Natural flood management works best as part of a wider approach and can complement traditional flood defences and engineered solutions. The appropriate combination depends on the location, catchment, flood mechanism, environmental constraints and project objectives.
Potentially. Work affecting an ordinary watercourse or main river may require relevant consent or an environmental permit. Requirements depend on the proposed works and location, so Landmarc can help identify the permissions and approvals that may be needed as part of project planning.
We assess the practical and environmental requirements of the site, consider how water moves through the landscape, identify suitable interventions and deliver the agreed works using experienced operators and specialist equipment. Where appropriate, projects can also include habitat creation, restoration and ongoing maintenance.
Potentially. If NFM works create or enhance qualifying habitats, there may be an opportunity for the biodiversity improvements to be used to generate Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units that can be sold to developers. However, this is not guaranteed: eligibility and the number and value of units depend on the site’s baseline biodiversity, the habitats created or enhanced, the BNG assessment and the legal and management arrangements. Landowners should obtain appropriate ecological, legal and BNG advice before entering into an agreement.
Peter Stanford
A heartfelt thank you to you and your team for such a massive effort and superb result keeping the road open at Slapton line. The whole community is indebted to you for your fantastic work. Simple words, but thank you.
SUE and MARTIN IVES
Landmarc and all those associated with the reconstruction of Kingsbridge Quay fully deserve our thanks for the magnificent completion of the project. Throughout, the engineers have maintained a safe clean site with minimum inconvenience to quay users. Thanks again.
MR Kelly
I wanted to tell you how impressed I am about the repairs done to the quay in Kingsbridge. A very professional and thorough job. You’ve really made the new build fit in well with the original and from what I hear will be completed on time. Well done!
