Cumbria Flood Action Plan adopts charter for collaborative working arround natural flood management

After the devastating floods in the north of England last December (2015), the Foundation for Common Land led on developing a Charter for collaborative action on natural flood management. In March 2016 a first version of this Charter was tested, refined and improved at a meeting including Agency staff, farmers and community representatives. Since then it has been adopted by the Cumbria Flood Partnership in its Action Plan. The Charter is aimed at all those involved in the planning and development of natural flood management schemes and includes 12 principles to deliver effective natural flood management. These are as follows:

1. Floods can cause terrible damage: we need to reduce future impacts
2. Cumbria & the Lake District is fantastic; we must look after what we love
3. Slowing the Flow can help reduce flooding
4. We will work to overcome the mistrust between people
5. Slowing the Flow requires farmers and will need to be paid for
6. We ask for a lead for flood protection and recovery while recognising other legal duties, responsibilities and rights
7. Every place is different and requires its own solution
8. Local schemes need to coordinate to make a difference at the large scale
9. Scientists, communities, farmers, landowners and organisations will pool their knowledge
10. We will address conflict between people-not just paper over the cracks
11. We will now move from meetings to collective practical action
12. We commit to action for flood mitigation in line with this Charter

You can download a more detailed version of the Charter here