The scheme forms part of the £1.1 million Saving Shireoaks & Worksop through Natural Flood Management (NFM) project funded by the Environment Agency as part of the £25 million Natural Flood Management Programme. The project aims to harness natural process to help reduce the impact of flooding on homes and business in the River Ryton catchment area by slowing river flows and boosting flood storage capacity by reconnecting the watercourses to their floodplains and creating features such as new ponds.  In addition to reducing flood risk, NFM schemes can provide habitat for wildlife, improve air and water quality and enhance community greenspaces.  

The project is being delivered by Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council, Bassetlaw District Council, Severn Trent and the University of East London. A key focus for the project team is ensuring that local concerns and ideas are considered as part of the scheme’s delivery. Back in May the team, supported by project partners, hosted two community consultation sessions at Farr Park. The aim of the events was to update residents and park users about potential options for the use of NFM to help reduce the impact of flooding in the local area whilst enhancing the park for users and wildlife.  

Issues raised as part of the community consultation included increased flood risk to local properties; accessibility and the retention of the park’s open nature; the covenant governing how the park can used as well as concerns about potential for increased anti-social behaviour and responsibility for future maintenance. Suggestions for positive improvements included enhancing areas for wildlife and better accessibility including more seating.

Speaking about the proposed work at Farr Park, Project Manager Ian Higginson said:  

“The schemes we’ve delivered so far highlight the importance of partnership working and community engagement and I’d like to thank everyone who attended our drop-in sessions or provided feedback on our plans for Farr Park via other routes. Local input, whether relating to concerns or suggestions, has really helped as we’ve worked with partners to update the scheme. Having taken people’s views and ideas into account, especially in relation to worries about increased potential flood risk, water safety and keeping the park’s open nature, we’re confident we can deliver a scheme that provides significant flood risk reductions for residents and businesses directly adjacent to and downstream of Farr Park whilst enhancing the park for all users as well as wildlife.”  

The project team is currently finalising details and plans with partners and is aiming to share updated designs in November.  

Cllr Darrell Pulk, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Bassetlaw District Council said: “We welcome the launch of this natural flood management scheme by the Wildlife Trust which, with the support of landowners, will slow the movement of water as well as providing benefits to wildlife. 
 
“We look forward, as landowners, to working with NWT in developing their scheme to benefit Farr Park and the Water meadows area.

Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "We’re pleased to support this important partnership work, which uses natural solutions to help reduce flood risk while improving local green spaces for people and wildlife. It is also positive to see local feedback helping to shape the plans for Farr Park, ensuring the scheme reflects community views and delivers lasting benefits for Worksop residents. We look forward to seeing the updated designs later this year and continuing to work with partners to bring the project forward.”

Over the coming weeks, the project team and contactors will be onsite conducting sampling and surveys to help inform the final plans and some preparatory work including some vegetation clearance and removal of large items of litter along the river channel.  

Speaking about this work, Project Manager Ian Higginson said:  

"Having adapted the plans following feedback from park users and residents we now need to complete onsite surveys and ground preparations to enable us to finalise the plans for sharing.  Work will include soil sampling, some vegetations clearance along the river and the removal of large items of litter from the river channel. This work will enable us to assess the impacts of the options, prepare details costings and develop a delivery programme that maximises the flood risk benefit of the NFM scheme whilst limiting disruption for visitors and neighbours." 

The project team and contractors will be on site in the coming weeks conducting some preliminary works to inform the project plans and prepare the site. This will include ground investigations and surveys plus some riverbank vegetation clearance and removal of large litter items from the river channel.  

Further details about the wider project as well as detailed responses to a range of questions raised during the consultation can be found on our NFM project page.

Find out more about our NFM project