Micro-catchment Overview

Land Cover

The way the land is used has significant impacts on flood management. Land use has been mapped here using the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology’s (CEH) Land Cover Map 2019. This is a model derived from satellite imagery at 25m resolution. The land use here is primarily improved grassland, accounting for 44% of the catchment, followed by the acid grassland of the moorland covering another 29%. Large areas of broadleaved woodland are concentrated in the catchment’s centre, particularly Boro Wood, and are directly adjacent to the river upstream. There is a large coniferous woodland on the western edge of the catchment and another small patch on the north-eastern edge. A small number of arable and horticultural fields and neutral grasslands are scattered on the southern and western edges of the catchment. It should be noted that this land cover map model is not a perfect representation of land use, as it simplifies UK land cover into very broad classes.

Micro-catchment Overview

Land Cover

Land use observed during the catchment walkover mostly matched the land use mapped here using the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology’s (CEH) Land Cover Map 2019 on the previous page. Boro wood is of mixed composition with areas of more conifers alongside the deciduous woodland.

There is also a Christmas tree plantation and several arable fields to the east of Boro wood.

The common is quite scrubby heath with bracken, gorse and heather species present more than grassland. This is currently grazed by sheep and cows.

The steep wooded slopes mid-catchment demonstrate a very positive headwater land use. The CEH map doesn't pick up on riparian trees and hedgerows in the catchment.

View west from dry bridge/buddle near Cold East Cross showing moorland heath vegetation. View south from lane near Rippon Tor rifle range showing steep headwater woodland.

View north of fields just north of Rew with River Ashburn in natural channel.

Priority Areas and Drivers

Flooding has the potential to negatively affect people and communities. By considering both the vulnerability of communities and the opportunities for land management interventions, actions can be targeted to have a positive impact on communities most at risk. Flooding is one of a number of natural hazards which can cause harm to people, the environment and the economy. The primary driver for targeting this catchment is flooding. However, there are other priority areas and drivers which will be affected by NFM and can determine the most appropriate type of NFM for the catchment. These are mapped in the following pages.