Flood defence project completed after three years

The Fiddlers Hill wetland project in Fordham uses natural methods to stop the area from being flooded

A project aimed to protect an area from flooding by using nature-based solutions has been completed after three years.

The Fiddlers Hill wetland scheme in Fordham, near Colchester, was once farmland.

But natural flood management has increased the meadow's capacity to hold water during periods of heavy rainfall while creating habitats and enhancing biodiversity.

Andy Went, natural rivers manager at Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust, said: "By restoring wetland features, the project seeks to reduce local flood risk, whilst creating a richer, more sustainable environment for wildlife and the community."

The project hopes to bring more biodiversity to the area

The scheme was created in a bid to demonstrate how nature-based solutions can help to protect communities from flooding while enhancing the environment.

It is a three-year collaboration between Essex & Suffolk Rivers Trust, the Woodland Trust, the Environment Agency, Essex Wildlife Trust and Essex County Council.

Work included excavating ponds, expanding fen areas, creating shallow channels, and lowering riverbanks to encourage seasonal flooding.

Large and shallow ponds known as "scrapes" have been dug across five hectares of floodplain grazing meadow on the River Colne, upstream of Colchester.

The ponds will help reduce the risk of flooding locally, including to the road on nearby Fiddlers Hill, said the Environment Agency.

Matt Butcher from the Environment Agency, said: "The project creates more space for water on the River Colne floodplain upstream of Colchester, whilst establishing valuable wetland habitat that will help retain water in the landscape during dry periods."