Nature-based solutions for water management in Norfolk
Norfolk is one of the driest and sunniest counties in the UK, making it increasingly vulnerable to both drought and flooding exacerbated by a changing climate. At the same time, sensitive habitats such as the River Wensum Special Area of Conservation (SAC) are facing increased pressure from high nutrient levels.
Traditional water management methods can’t meet these challenges alone, meaning new, ‘nature-based solutions’ are needed.
A Pilot for the Norfolk Water Strategy Programme
Wendling Beck is a pilot within the Norfolk Water Strategy Programme (NSWP), delivered in collaboration with Norfolk County Council, Anglian Water and The Nature Conservancy.
The NSWP aims to relieve water management pressures by investing in nature-based solutions and working with local farmers and landowners to restore natural hydrological processes across the county.
As The Nature Conservancy’s Rob Cunningham explains, “Building a reservoir or desalination plant will help maintain the public water supply, but it will do nothing to protect the river from the extreme droughts we’re seeing more often… Nature-based solutions that increase the storage in the aquifer to feed the river are the only way to change that.”
Nature-based solutions can reduce nutrient levels, working alongside water treatment by Anglian Water to safeguard the future of Norfolk’s rivers.
Restoring Natural Systems Across Wendling Beck
As part of the NSWP, Wendling Beck is demonstrating how nature restoration can deliver measurable benefits for water quality, biodiversity, climate resilience and local communities.
Our project sits across a sub-catchment of the River Wensum. One of the best examples of a chalk river network in the world, the River Wensum has nonetheless suffered significant ecological decline due to nutrient enrichment.
To address this, we are returning former arable land back to nature through the creation and restoration of 400 hectares of new habitat across 35 different habitat types, including watercourses, wetlands, woodlands and species-rich grasslands. Over 50% of this change has already been delivered in advance post baseline
These changes will help to:
Slow runoff into waterways and retain water in the landscape
Reduce nutrient runoff and sediment loading
Improve aquifer water storage
Support biodiversity recovery across the river system
By restoring natural habitats across Wendling Beck, we can improve water quality across our River Ware sub-catchment.
Delivering Our Nutrient Mitigation Scheme
In partnership with local authorities, Natural England and specialist consultants, Wendling Beck has designed and implemented a fully-approved nutrient mitigation scheme. This allows developers in a large proportion of the Wensum and Yare catchments to purchase nutrient neutrality credits to meet planning requirements, while supporting nature-based solutions.
Recognised by Breckland, South Norfolk, Broadland, and Norwich City Councils, our nutrient neutrality credits are secured long-term and directly contribute to biodiversity and climate resilience in Norfolk.
As our Strategy Lead, Glenn Anderson, notes, “The only way to solve the big societal issues is to make them part of an economic story. These programmes show how to deliver nature-based solutions at scale through collaboration, using a blended finance mechanism of private funds and government support.”
By offering nutrient neutrality credits to developers, we have been able to restore wetlands across Wendling Beck, key both to effective water management and climate resilience.
Scalable Nature-Based Solutions for Norfolk and Beyond
By showcasing how landscape-scale ecological restoration, water management and economic development can align, Wendling Beck provides a blueprint for delivering nature-based solutions at scale.
Our project shows that, with the right partnerships, land stewardship can both protect critical natural assets and unlock sustainable growth for Norfolk.
Find out more about purchasing nutrient neutrality credits.
