Floods cost the UK £2.2 billion annually, projected to rise 19-49% by the 2050s.
Traditional steel and concrete defences are part of flood defence, but they have negative long-term consequences and are expensive to build and maintain.
NfM offers a different approach: working with nature to reduce flood risk while strengthening ecosystems.
Bingley Flood River Aire 2015 – Cottingley Bridge , Bradford, West Yorkshire. Example of force of upcoming river in excess of 15 foot up Photo by Chris Gallagher on Unsplash
Evidence-led, landowner-approved, and built to last
Our Three-Phase NFM Process
Commission individual phases or the complete package. We only install where proper due diligence has been completed to our standard.
Phase 1
Screening & Feasibility
Desktop study mapping surface flows, identifying site constraints (SSSIs, protected species, heritage sites), and engaging landowners to establish project viability.
What’s included
+ Comprehensive screening report with constraint mapping + Surface flow analysis and initial design options + Protected species and heritage assessments + Landowner engagement summary
Costs & timelines
From £1,000 Timeline: 1 week for single sites
Phase 2
Design & Consenting
Site visit to ground-truth desktop findings, refine designs with landowner input, and secure all necessary permissions for installation.
What’s included
+ Final schematic design with landowner approval + Ordinary Watercourse Consent documentation + Site survey report with refined feature locations + Installation-ready plans
Costs & timelines
From £725 + consent fees (from £225) Design Timeline: a week + Consenting Timeline: 2-6 months
Phase 3
Installation & Monitoring
Professional installation of NFM features (leaky dams, bunds, scrapes, tree planting), with comprehensive documentation and optional ongoing monitoring.
What’s included
+ Professionally installed features + Geolocated map layer of all installations + Photographic record of completed works + Optional monitoring programme
Costs & timelines
From £1,000 per day | Full digital site documentation InstallationTimeline: Can be started within 4 weeks of contract Monitoring: after each named storm or the end of a winter season
What Natural Flood Management Delivers
Proven results from across the UK and our work delivering NFM at scale in Wales.
real world Benefits
Evidence from across the UK
£10 in benefitsfor every £1 invested
Up to 31% reduction in property and land damages
4-15%reduction in peak flood flows
Carbon sequestration through woodland, peatland, and wetland creation
Upper Usk Catchment
Our services delivered
700 leaky woody structures across 22 sites
280,000 litres of flood storage created
56 sites screened, 25 consented, 22 installed
Delivered in 6 weeks
Log feature that creates a miniature step-pool in a stream in the Upper Usk catchment
Scaling Across Wales
What’s in the works
10,000 installations planned (by April 2026)
4 million litres of flood storage
Working with 25 Risk Management Authorities
Wales-wide delivery
FAQ
How long do NFM features last?
NFM features are designed as dynamic, evolving structures rather than permanent installations.
Wood naturally degrades over time in wet conditions, but this is part of their function. As features accumulate sediment and organic matter, they often become more effective and integrated into the landscape.
Well-designed installations can function effectively for many years, and periodic inspections allow for adjustments or reinforcement as needed. The features adapt and improve rather than simply deteriorating.
What ongoing maintenance is required?
Minimal. Features should be inspected after significant storm events to clear accumulated debris and check structural integrity. Occasional removal of sediment buildup ensures water continues flowing through gaps.
Unlike engineered defences requiring intensive upkeep, NFM features are designed to work with natural processes and largely maintain themselves.
We can provide optional monitoring services to track performance over time.
Do we need planning permission for NFM features?
You will need Ordinary Watercourse Consent from your Risk Management Authority for works on ordinary watercourses, which we secure as part of Phase 2. Our screening process identifies all permissions needed based on your site’s specific designations and constraints, including any planning permission requirements.
Can you implement NFM on protected sites like SSSIs?
Yes. Our Phase 1 screening specifically identifies protected designations, and we have experience securing the necessary written consent from Natural Resources Wales. Works must demonstrate they won’t harm designated features and ideally help achieve or maintain the site’s favourable condition.
NFM is often highly compatible with conservation objectives: restoring wet woodland or reconnecting rivers to floodplains can actively benefit site ecology.
Each project requires a bespoke assessment, which is why we engage NRW early in the process and design features that deliver both flood risk reduction and ecological benefits.
Conwy County Borough Council has engaged we are Nature based to deliver several Natural Flood Management schemes in North Wales.
The services provided have included initial feasibility studies, catchment assessments and consenting through to design and construction. All the services provided have been on budget, on programme and to a high standard, contributing significantly to the successful delivery of numerous projects.
Tom and the team have been very easy to work with, and Conwy County Borough Council would welcome the opportunity to work with them again in the future.
Why we’re different
Most consultancies hand you a report. We hand you working landscapes. Our team designs, secures consents, and installs features ourselves. Always putting nature, communities, and future generations at the heart of what we do.
It’s a simple principle: solutions that strengthen ecosystems deliver stronger flood protection and ensure the landscapes we love can be enjoyed for generations to come.
NFM is only one part of our commitment to nature-based solutions.
