Epping Forest Floods: Leaky Dams to the Rescue

Epping Forest is set to undergo a major environmental transformation with the installation of 374 leaky dams over the next year. This initiative, managed by the City of London Corporation, is designed to significantly slow down and manage water flow within the forest's waterways.

Caroline Haines, chairwoman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee, highlighted the dual benefits of the project: protecting homes from flooding while simultaneously fostering an environment where wildlife can thrive. The dams are also anticipated to improve the forest's capacity for carbon storage and enhance overall air quality.

The project is a substantial undertaking, recognized as the largest natural flood management effort of its kind in the south east. It is supported by £200,000 from the Environment Agency and £150,000 from the City of London Corporation's own climate action strategy.

Conservationists estimate that these dams could help the forest retain an additional 10,000 cubic metres of water, equivalent to four Olympic-sized swimming pools. This will not only support tree health through increased soil moisture but also create vital wetter habitats for various plant and fungal species.