Enfield creates woodland to reduce flooding risk

Enfield Council has transformed 80 hectares of land into woodland, using natural solutions to reduce the risk of flooding.

The new woodlands are on an areas, which was previously grasslands.

The Enfield Chase Woodland Creation area includes ponds with sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), which encourage a natural water filtering process, using non plastic materials and allowing the soil to soak up and hold more water. This reduces the risk of surface water flooding and protects hundreds of peoples’ homes in the neighbourhoods located in downstream urban areas, such as Edmonton.

The project is part of Enfield's natural flood management initiative, which has seen restoration of local biodiversity and river habitats to defend homes and buildings from being damaged by flooding.

New wildlife has also been brought into the borough as part of the flood management scheme. This includes the introduction of beavers, who can create beaver dams across flood prone rivers.

Cllr Rick Jewell, Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Enfield is committed to finding proactive solutions to be ready for flooding challenges when they arise in the borough. The rewilding flood management project will bolster the natural wetland ecosystem not only providing flood defences but encouraging local biodiversity to grow and thrive.

“The impacts of climate change are being felt across the capital, with severe weather events becoming more frequent. Projects such as Enfield’s natural flood management have allowed us to mitigate the impacts of such extreme flooding when it does occur, and we are working to reduce the effect on our residents. We are innovating to trial new approaches to managing flooding, all while creating green spaces within the borough for our communities to enjoy.”