This is an archived website, available until June 2027. We hope it will inspire people to continue to care for and protect the South West Peak area and other landscapes. Although the South West Peak Landscape Partnership ended in June 2022, the area is within the Peak District National Park. Enquiries can be made to customer.service@peakdistrict.gov.uk

The 5-year South West Peak Landscape Partnership, 2017-2022, was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Project summary


Pressures from climate change and human activity mean that floods have begun to occur more often and when they do occur result in more costly damage. As a result, traditional approaches to flood management are growing less and less effective. Slowing the Flow worked with nature rather than against it in a cost-effective and ecologically sound way.

With our partners at the Cheshire Wildlife Trust we used a number of techniques that work to restore a river’s natural flood defences to reduce downstream flooding. Rather than only combating the more traditional symptoms through the construction of costly and imposing concrete barriers we improved wetlands, floodplains, and riverbank woodlands. These are natures’ built in flood defences and through their restoration we worked to rehabilitate entire water systems, with far reaching benefits for all.

We worked with landowners and local residents to identify additional suitable areas for this project and where the impact would be the most far-reaching.

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What we did

  • Reduced flood hazards for at risk communities.
  • Enhanced the biodiversity of rivers and streams throughout the South West Peak.
  • Protected local water sources by reducing silting and agricultural run-off.
  • Worked with local landowners and residents to identify areas with the most need.
  • Designed monitoring systems to ensure that the project has long lasting benefits.

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Learn more about how to help Slow the Flow in the South West Peak

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Who's working on this project?


Andrew Farmer

Andrew Farmer

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Our partners


  • Cheshire Wildlife Trust
  • Environment Agency