Future Landscapes Trust

25/03/2026

02/12/2025

01/12/2025

🌊 Working WITH Nature to Stop Flooding!
Join the Future Landscapes Trust as we install cutting-edge river flow and level meters in Marsham Valley, East Sussex—a game-changer for predicting floods and protecting our community at Pett Level!

01/12/2025

Are our century-old methods of flood defence actually making the problem worse? For generations, we’ve treated our landscape like a raincoat—building concrete channels to flush water away as fast as possible. But as floods continue to devastate communities, the Future Landscapes Trust is proposing a radical shift: we need to stop fighting water and start working with it.

In this video, we explore the concept of Natural Flood Management (NFM). Instead of rigid engineering, NFM uses nature’s own toolkit—leaky barriers, woodlands, and healthy soil—to turn our landscape back into a giant sponge capable of soaking up the rain.

07/06/2025

Watch the highlights from our Open Meeting on Natural Flood Management, held on Friday 6th June 2025 at Pett Village Hall, hosted by the Future Landscapes Trust.

This meeting brought together local residents, landowners, and supporters—including Current Hastings MP Helena Dollimore and former MP Sally-Ann Hart—to share progress on our project to reduce flood risk in the Marsham Valley.

In this video, we cover:
Updates on research and reporting
Actions already taken on the ground
Plans for the next two years
Ways local landowners can get involved

This vital work is made possible thanks to funding from the Environment Agency and Southern Water.

🌐 Learn more and get involved: https://www.futurelandscapes.org.uk
📩 Contact us: [email protected]

Together, we can build a more resilient future for our landscape and community.


https://youtu.be/IEjOHWv2vEk

06/05/2025

Have you say... OPEN PUBLIC MEETING

Updates on Pett Level Natural Flood Management Project

We will be hosting another Open Meeting on Friday 6th June at 6.30pm at the Pett Village Hall

to update all residents on the progress of their Natural Flood Management project.

The meeting will provide updates after the first year of the project. Everyone is welcome, especially householders, landowners, and land managers in the local area.
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Friday 6th June, 6.30pm onwards,
Pett Village Hall,.TN35 4HD

Nestled along the stunning Sussex coast, the picturesque village of Pett Level faces a growing threat: devastating floods. But instead of concrete walls and ...

25/04/2025

🌊 Open Meeting: Updates on Natural Flood Management 🌿

📅 Friday 6th June | ⏰ 6:30pm | 📍 Pett Village Hall

Join Us for an important update on our Natural Flood Management (NFM) project—helping protect Pett from flooding while boosting local biodiversity!

🔹 What’s on the agenda?
✔ Latest progress on NFM interventions (wetlands, leaky dams & more).
✔ How these measures benefit wildlife AND reduce flood risk.
✔ Your chance to ask questions + share feedback.

🍃 Free to attend | All welcome | Tea & biscuits provided!

Why come?
✅ See how your community is leading in nature-based flood solutions.
✅ Learn how you can get involved in future projects.

📣 Spread the word! Tag neighbours who might be interested.

🌊 Open Meeting: Updates on Natural Flood Management 🌿

11/06/2024

Open Public Meeting at Pett Village hall - please send your views to [email protected]

11/06/2024

BBC News announcement of our project -
Thanks to a grant from the Environment Agency we are investing £350,000 into a new Natural Flood Management (NFM) project benefiting the residents of Pett Level and the Marsham Valley near Fairlight, Hastings.
Using nature-based solutions, Natural Flood Management allows us to increase flood resilience while providing wider benefits to the environment, nature and society.
The 3-year project will be led by The Future Landscape Trust in partnership with a range of organisations, including the Marsham Brook Residents Association, RSPCA, Southern Water, Environment Agency, local Parish Councils, High Weald National Landscape, and South East Rivers Trust.
Around 5.5 million homes and businesses in England are at risk of flooding and climate change is only increasing the dangers. Clearly, we are already seeing the impacts of the climate crisis around the world and in the UK through wetter winters and hotter, drier summers.
Planning ahead to mitigate the impacts of flooding is essential. Crucially, taking steps to prepare for flooding can reduce the damage to your home and possessions by around 40%, research shows.
The project aims to look at how natural flood management can help local communities and prevent peak water levels for farmers, local residents, land managers, organisations and businesses at risk of flooding
The aim is to hold water in the valley sides during peak rain and then release it slowly, lowering the height of floods. This will be done in two ways
1. Improve ground cover to allow woodlands and grasslands to absorb more water on the steep north-facing sides.
2. Create mini 'leaky dams' that hold back water during torrential rain events and release it slowly
The project's first step is to gather extensive evidence to give a scientifically valid baseline to assess if the project can succeed.
The project partners are forming a charity: the 'Future Landscapes Trust' that would like to hear the views of our neighbours and local community as the project takes place. A programme of talks and seminars will help gather the views of local people and stakeholders.
This year we will be taking water measurements and installing scientific monitoring equipment to help how the project will unfold.