We are thrilled to announce that our £2.1m bid to the Environment Agency’s Natural Flood Management programme has been successful!! The Alt Catchment NFM Project will implement a variety of NFM measures throughout the whole of the catchment, from leaky dams in Huyton to sand dune management at Hightown. The project, made possible through the Alt Crossens Catchment Partnership, will bring together a wide range of partners including local authorities, NGOs, universities and the local record centre to work together to achieve multiple benefits at a catchment-scale.

Host for the Catchment Partnership Andy Martin shared the news with partners, saying “The successful bid is the result of fantastic collaboration between a range of stakeholder partners from across the Catchment. The multiple NFM projects included in the bid will reduce flood risk, create and improve wildlife habitats, improve water quality, provide valuable learning and promote even closer working between project partners.”

The project will run until 2027, with an initial development phase followed by delivery, subject to business case approval. Find out more about the NFM Programme and the other successful applicants and schemes: 40 projects to benefit from £25 million funding for natural flood management - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The River Alt Natural Flood Management (NFM) Programme is a £2.1m partnership project, led by Mersey Rivers Trust, funded by the Environment Agency. It brings together partners from the Alt Crossens Catchment Partnership to deliver a range of NFM measures throughout the whole of the River Alt catchment, from the source at Huyton to the sea at Hightown.

Phase 1 of the project was delivered in 2024 which involved designing and developing the package of projects across 19 sites. Phase 2 will run from January 2025 to March 2027 and will involve the delivery of the various NFM interventions.

The River Alt NFM Project is split into 9 smaller projects, covering 19 sites. The sites have been packaged together based on the area which will benefit from the flood reduction measures.

1. Knowsley/Stockbridge Village

2. West Derby

3. Croxteth

4. Fazakerley

5. Knowsley

6. Kirkby

7. Maghull

8. Formby

9. Hightown

Oak plantation is located in Knowsley and comprises a 2.78 ha site with woodland, grassland and an unnamed watercourse, which feeds into the River Alt. Much of the site and the adjacent housing is at risk of surface water flooding. NFM interventions planned for the site include woodland management (to be undertaken by Knowsley Council) and leaky dam creation. The woody material removed as part of the woodland management works will be re-used to create a series of leaky dams to increase attenuation of water and reduce water velocity and flood peaks in the main River Alt during high rainfall. The dams will allow normal water levels to flow unimpeded, but intercept and slow flood waters. The woody material removed as part of the woodland management works will be re-used to create a series of leaky dams, to increase attenuation of water and reduce water velocity during rainfall events. The dams will allow normal water levels to flow unimpeded, but intercept, slow and divert flood waters to the wider channel/banks upstream of the dams.

Hall Brook is situated within Croxteth Country Park and flows between a field for livestock grazing and a housing estate. The site is at high risk of both fluvial (river) and surface water flooding. NFM works at this site will include reconnecting the floodplain to increase flood water storage capacity and slow the flow into the River Alt. An additional offline wetland will be dug in the northeast corner of the field to attenuate overland and groundwater run off. This will provide additional freshwater habitat and storage capacity, and reduce ground water flowing into Hall Brook in events of high rainfall.

More info coming soon!

More info coming soon!

Dam Wood is an historic woodland, originally part of the grounds of Croxteth Hall. A series of ditches flow through the site, fed by surface water outfalls from the adjacent housing estates. The ditches flow to the northwest of the site where they join the River Alt. Much of this area is at risk of both fluvial and surface waterflooding. This project will create a series of wetland scrapes to provide additional flood water storage capacity during high rainfall events. A series of leaky dams will be built within the ditches to increase attenuation during high flows. In combination with the scrapes, leaky dams will help to slow the flow of water into the River Alt and contribute to a reduction in downstream flooding.

Tue Brook wetlands are situated along the western boundary of the United Utilities (UU) site for wastewater treatment, within the shallow valleys of Fazakerley Brook and the River Alt. The wetlands were created in 1999-2000 as a method of treating highly polluted water from Tue Brook due to industrial estate drainage, urban drainage and combined sewer overflows, before it met Fazakerley Brook. After liaison with UU and a site visit, it is evident the site has not been managed since it was first created over 20 years ago. Our proposal for this site includes full restoration of the wetland, including woodland management, re-digging of the wetlands, sediment buildup removal, channel widening and floodplain restoration. Restoration and increased storage capacity of the wetland will improve attenuation during heavy rainfall and flood events, improve water quality and flow dynamics, and help to reduce local and downstream flooding.

Willowbed plantation (aka Bluebell Woods), is located in Knowsley and comprises a 1.69 ha woodland with Knowsley Brook running through the site. The site is located adjacent to the M57 motorway and is therefore a prime flood storage area for motorway runoff providing protection for the housing estates to the north. The river channel is very straight, with high banks making it ideal for multiple leaky dams. Woody material from Knowsley Council’s woodland management works will be reused to create the dams. Interventions will reduce the speed of flow through the site and downstream, increase attenuation within Willowbed Plantation, and add desirable river dynamics into the currently straight, funnel-like channel.

Dumbreeze wood is located in Knowsley and comprises a 0.28 ha woodland with a watercourse running through the site, part of the Knowsley/Croxteth Brook waterbody. The site is bound by residential housing and roads which are known to flood during high rainfall events. Frequent flooding on Mill Lane, adjacent to Dumbreeze wood, feeds into the channel and contributes to downstream flooding. The watercourse flows from Dumbreeze Wood, under Knowsley Lane and into Clint East Wood, which comprises 1.76 ha of riparian woodland. The site is bound by an industrial estate to the north which is at high risk of surface water flooding. Leaky Dams will be constructed at both sites, slowing river flow and increasing attenuation within the channel when water levels are higher. The dams will be raised from the river bed, allowing normal flow and the movement of sediment and fish. Knowsley Council will undertake some complimentary woodland management works at both sites.

Knowsley Council will be undertaking woodland management works at this site. More info coming soon!

Millbrook Millennium Green is a Local Wildlife Site situated in Knowsley and comprises woodland, grassland, ponds and a watercourse (Simonswood Brook) that runs through the centre of the site. Much of the site sits within flood zone 3 and many of the adjacent housing estates are at risk of surface water flooding due to outfalls becoming inundated at high river flows. A series of in channel scallops, berms and wetlands at the site are proposed to increase storage capacity, attenuation and reduce rate of flow. A series of online attenuation wetlands will be created at the downstream end of the site, alongside existing ponds to provide extra filtration, habitat and capacity during peak flows.

Valley Park is located downstream of Millbrook Millennium Green, before Simonswood Brook joins the River Alt. Restoration of a palaeo-channel and creation of online wetlands are proposed to naturalise the channel and increase capacity during flood events. A secondary channel will create a buffer downstream from the fast currents caused by the outflow, reducing the flow rate of the brook and erosion of the banks immediately downstream of the outflow. This will also help properties downstream that are at risk of flooding. It will provide valuable habitat for a variety of wildlife, including nesting birds and the protected Water vole which is present in the River Alt catchment.

Acornfield plantation is a Local Nature Reserve located in Knowsley and comprises mature woodland, ponds, ditches and peatland habitat. To the north of the site is an industrial estate and to the south are residential properties, both of which are at risk of surface water flooding. The ditch system, fed by rainwater, flows into a culvert before joining Simonswood Brook in a high flood risk area from both fluvial and surface water sources. Several leaky dams will be installed in the ditches to increase storage capacity, improve ditch geomorphology and create habitat for species. Knowsley Council will also undertake some complimentary woodland management works.

Knowsley Council will be undertaking woodland management works at this site. More info coming soon!

An overflow channel from the Leeds and Liverpool canal flows along the northern edge of Old Hall Road Park. The channel flows into Whinny Brook, which feeds into the river Alt. This site is in flood risk zone 3, meaning properties in this area and those downstream in Maghull are at high risk of flooding. Maghull has experienced severe flooding historically due to development on an area that is, in part, the historic flood plain of the River Alt. Maghull is particularly susceptible to surface water flooding due to the low-lying nature of the district and local surface water systems typically drain by gravity into the River Alt, creating a high flood risk area for hundreds of properties. Leaky dams in the canal overflow channel will help to increase attenuation of flows upstream within the channel during high rainfall events, slowing the flows that ultimately feed into Whinny Brook, and eventually the River Alt.

More info coming soon!

More info coming soon!

More info coming soon!

More info coming soon!