Brant Fell NFM Phase One Delivery Report

In 2023 JBA (Jeremy Benn Associates) was commissioned by the Foundation for Common Land (FCL) to provide specialist Natural Flood Management (NFM) advice on sites across Brant Fell common in the Howgill Fells, Cumbria/Yorkshire border. The project was to consider interventions which could be delivered to reduce downstream flood risk to the town of Sedbergh. Measures were identified through consultations with the landowner, active commoners and site walkover surveys. Partners included Lune River Trust and a number of consultations with the Environment Agency and Westmorland & Furness Council.

Delivery of the leaky barriers was funded through the Yorkshire Dales National Park FiPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes) fund and the footpath management was the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Our Uplands Commons Project.  

Installation of sustainable larch leaky barriers on Winder area of Brant Fell. 23 barriers were installed in total, 1600m of footpath subsoiled with earth bunds and 19 timber bars directed water flow from the heavily eroded paths