Flooding is one of the UK’s most costly natural disasters. Willow provides a practical, nature-based way to hold back water and protect homes, farmland and infrastructure.
What we know about willow and flood mitigation
Willow thrives in wet soils and actively absorbs large volumes of water.
Shelterbelts and SRC blocks reduce surface runoff and slow flood peaks.
Deep root systems stabilise soils, reducing erosion on riverbanks and slopes.
Using willow in floodplain buffers is cheaper and more flexible than hard engineering alone.
Hydraulic roughness is greater in willow, quicker to achieve, and cheaper than conventional woodland options.
What we're exploring next
Optimum planting densities and designs for different landscapes.
Integration with whole-catchment flood strategies.
