How prepared is your home or street to deal with flooding? As weather patterns become more unpredictable, flooding is an all-too-common reality for many communities in the UK. And Harpenden is no different, with Station Road repeatedly flooding during heavy downpours. The Environment Agency joined us for the first time at the last Harpenden Sustainability Market to chat to local residents about how to prepare for flooding, as well as how they could get involved as volunteer flood wardens.
The Environment Agency is a government organisation that works with businesses and communities to protect and improve the environment. A key part of their role is managing flood risk — just days before the market, it sent out flood alerts about Storm Claudia. It also helps businesses and communities reduce flood risk, adapt to climate change and avoid polluting the environment or using too much water.
Joining us at the market were Tarquin Nelson, Flood Resilience Engagement Advisor, and Ella Murley, Flood Risk Management Team Member. They invited locals to come and chat to them about their concerns and find out more about flooding. They also shared more information about the dangers of floodwater and their restoration work along the River Lee, one of the UK’s rare and ecologically valuable chalk streams.
Managing the rising risk of flooding in Hertfordshire and beyond
Flooding is an issue that only continues to grow here in the UK. Tarquin says, ‘climate change is definitely having an impact on flooding and flood risk. We’re only going to get warmer and wetter winters, and hotter and drier summers, and the swings in temperature are going to increase flood risk. That’s why we’re keen to help local people take action. By improving our understanding of the local area we can create better solutions and approaches in the future.’
In particular, the Agency expects increasing town development to put pressure on drains. As concrete and hard surfaces reduce the amount of available water-absorbing land, drains are more likely to overflow. And when the water enters the sewers it becomes dangerous and smelly. This is the general picture across the country, not just in Harpenden.
How you can reduce your flood risk
What can you do to reduce the risk of flooding on your property and in your community? Tarquin and Ella recommend increasing your home’s water capacity. Concrete driveways increase flood risk, but if you’re not able to replace it with grass, just adding pots or planters can increase storage capacity. At scale, these solutions can have a big impact. Avoid artificial grass if you can — the plastic doesn’t absorb water and runs off into drains.And if you want to get involved yourself? The team is looking for voluntary flood wardens. You can find out more and apply by sending an email expressing your interest and stating where you live to enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk. From there, the local team will get in touch with you.
Other nature loving stalls
The Environment Agency is just one of a number of wildlife and environmental activism stalls that attend the market. Ella and Tarquin enjoyed chatting to Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary, which looks after local hedgehogs. At the market, they sell sweet hedgehog-inspired gifts which elicit squeals of delight from every child who walks past, and all sales raise money for the upkeep of the hedgehogs they look after before releasing into the wild.
You can find out more about The Environment Agency here. From there, you can check your flood risk and how you can get involved in reducing the risk in the area. They are also active on Next Door, Facebook and X.Â
Join us at the next Harpenden Sustainability Market on Sunday the 15th of March to discover Environment Agency and other local eco and food stalls that promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Visit our markets page for the full schedule of dates.