A pioneering river restoration project in Somerset has helped landscapes, wildlife and farmers withstand this summer's drought conditions, according to the National Trust.
The conservation charity has released aerial images of its Holnicote Estate on Exmoor showing stretches of restored wetlands and river corridors remaining green and lush, despite prolonged dry weather across much of Somerset this summer.
The National Trust says the project demonstrates how "nature-based solutions" can help communities adapt to increasingly extreme weather by holding water in the landscape during drought while also reducing flood risk during periods of heavy rainfall.
Read more
'Too rare to map' - super rare bird caught on camera at Somerset estate
New Somerset weather warning issued after 'less than 1 per cent of rainfall' in July
Race to save one of Somerset's rarest habitats in multi-million pound appeal
At the heart of the scheme is the River Aller, which has undergone a decade-long restoration programme aimed at returning it to a more natural state. The project has reconnected the river with its floodplain, allowing it to flow through multiple channels, pools and shallow riffles, while beavers have also been reintroduced across the catchment.
Around 25 wild beavers now live in the area, creating ponds and wetlands that help store water and slow its movement through the landscape.
The charity said the result has been a significantly more resilient environment, with wetland habitats continuing to support wildlife and grazing livestock throughout the hot, dry summer.
Ben Eardley, project manager at Holnicote, said: "For generations as a nation we've drained wetlands, straightened rivers and moved water off the land as quickly as possible.
“Here we've reversed that approach and the results are remarkable.
“By reconnecting river systems with the surrounding area and creating natural sponges in the landscape, we've created a system that stores water during drought, keeping wetlands and the surrounding habitats healthy, and slows water during storms and periods of extreme rainfall, helping to protect villages from the risk of flooding downstream."
The trust said a range of species are benefiting from the restored habitat, including water voles, trout and grass snakes. New arrivals to the landscape have included green sandpipers, common cranes and white storks.
Mr Eardley said the project was also helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change.
"Nature shouldn't be viewed as a cost of climate adaptation. It should be seen as one of our greatest allies," he added.
Somerset farmers say wetlands help their cattle in the heat
National Trust tenant farmer Holly Purdy said the wetland landscape had provided valuable forage, shade and water for livestock during the recent dry spell.
"The River Aller site has been particularly beneficial for our two to three-year-old beef shorthorn steers, the variety of plants to graze and browse is key to success for the native breed, with our steers having flourished on the site," she said.
“During the high temperatures and drought this summer, the river site also offered significant cooling and shade, with grazing on wetland plant species within the river system that continued to grow despite the dry conditions."
The National Trust is now calling on the Government to invest more heavily in nature-based flood and drought management projects, arguing that schemes like Holnicote can help make rural communities more resilient while supporting wildlife recovery and farming.
The Somerset project is regarded as one of the UK's most ambitious river restoration schemes and has become a national example of how working with natural processes can help landscapes cope with increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
Share