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Four new films look at the work of the Environment Agency to develop natural flood management schemes. 

We need to slow the flow.


Storms which cause flooding in homes and businesses have increased in Cumbria in the last decade.

Peatlands hold large amount of water and during periods of high rainfall they can both hold back water and also slow the flow of the water coming off the hills.

Damaged peatlands cannot hold the same amounts of water, and areas that contain drains actually speed up the flow. This means that, during high rainfall events, water isn’t held back and released slowly but flows immediately into rivers, increasing the flooding risk downstream.

Blocking drains slows this run-off and keeps floodwater on the fells for longer.



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