Exciting Flood Mitigation Project at the Farm

Surveying tools of flooding and drainage experts, WJ Hatt company, providing expert advice here at the farm as we plan our next steps to improve our ability to remediate flood waters and heavy rain.

We’re thrilled to share an update on some exciting plans to improve the farm's drainage system, thanks to a fantastic visit and consultation from Oli Hatt, owner of WJ Hatt Drainage as the expert in farm drainage.

Oli kindly offered his consulting advice after seeing our mission of teaching farming and sustainability, and we’re so grateful for his support. Here's the plan going forward:

Swale Installation
The plan is to install two swales (grass-lined ditches) on the farm to help manage excess water and provide natural drainage buffers. These swales will:

• Act as water-absorbing buffers

• Allow water to flow off the farm, preventing excess flooding

• Help divert water to existing drainage systems

The first swale will run along the eastern edge of the farm and the second will curve from within the sheep paddock. The swales will be built with a gentle slope using laser levels to ensure proper drainage.

This will be a great step forward in making the farm more resilient to heavy rains and flooding, while providing us with the opportunity to enhance the landscape with more berry bushes and plant life.

Next Steps:
We’ll be in touch with the local authorities regarding the drainage connection to the culvert to ensure all regulations are met. If that connection isn’t feasible, the swales will still provide much-needed water management.

We’re excited to get started and will keep you updated on our progress! Thank you again to Oli Hatt for your invaluable expertise and support.