Our Catchment Model provides a tangible demonstration of Natural Flood Management (NFM) by recreating two river catchments in miniature – one catchment featuring various NFM measures and another reflecting a more typical rural landscape.
Rain" is introduced into the catchment via a number of nozzles and the resulting flow of water through the river channel and across the wider landscape can be easily seen. More importantly, the volume of water being "retained" by the two catchments can be measured, showing very clearly that the catchment with various NFM measures retains far more water than its counterpart. This natural capacity of the landscape to retain water is what NFM relies on, slowing flood flows so that flood events are more manageable for the communities impacted by them. The Model's tangible demonstration of what NFM can deliver will help spread the NFM message to communities all over the Tweed catchment.
