Our Chair met John Curtin at Flood and Coast 2019 where Janet invited him to meet some of the dynamic people in our Catchment. The workshop at Lancaster Town Hall was based on Partnership working had a large audience of people from varied backgrounds including those that work on the ground in a crisis, the Lead Local Flood Authorities, Council and community groups. Janet introduced the workshop by outlining some of Lune Valley Flood Forums most successful Partnership working over the last 12 months. Four tables were set up to discuss themes from Education, Resilience, Environment and Community. LVFF  now have new and existing partnerships to follow up on over the next few weeks. John spoke on climate and how engineering is not the total solution to flooding and climate issues we  can now  use a mix of methods. We thank John for attending and hope we can maintain a positive relationship with his office.

Lune Valley Flood Forum members recently visited the Duke of Westminster's estate at Abbeystead to learn more about the upland flood mitigation measures currently being implemented on the estate. Members viewed the examples of the way bare peat areas are seeded and run off contained using sheep wool rolls (see picture left) and the gully blocking that aims to create ponds containing rich growth of sphagnum moss.  They also looked the effect of sheep grazing at lower levels and the effect of animals on water courses.