Slow The Flow

01/09/2026

We’re delighted to share that Samuel Townsend, one of Slow The Flow’s longest-serving volunteers, has graduated following the completion of his research thesis. You can find out more about his work on our website: https://slowtheflow.net/natural-flood-management-wood-structures-leaky-dams-new-evidence-on-their-influence-on-water-quality-and-particulate-organic-matter-in-upland-headwaters/

Samuel says:

“I am incredibly proud to have graduated from The University of Huddersfield, awarded the degree of Master of Science by Research for my thesis on "The influence of natural flood management wood structures on water quality and particulate organic matter retention in headwater streams."

Words cannot express how grateful I am for my supervisors along the way. I am incredibly proud to have worked closely with Slow The Flow, as a volunteer to Trustee. And of course, grateful to family, friends, and fellow researchers for their support.”

22/08/2026

🌿 The People Behind Natural Flood Management

Many people are familiar with the practical side of Natural Flood Management (NFM). We see leaky barriers being installed, trees being planted and volunteers giving up their time to help reduce flood risk across the Calder Valley.

But what impact does being involved have on the people and communities delivering this work?

A recently published research paper by Slow The Flow Trustee Sophie Tankard in the Journal of Flood Risk Management explored how people connected to NFM in Calderdale perceive its effectiveness and the wider benefits it brings.

The findings showed strong support for NFM amongst respondents, but what stood out most were the benefits beyond flood risk reduction. Participants highlighted stronger community connections, improved knowledge and awareness, opportunities to learn new skills, greater connection to the local environment, and positive impacts on wellbeing.
For communities like ours, these findings are important because they suggest that community-led NFM is about more than managing water. It can help bring people together, build local knowledge, encourage volunteering and strengthen the social networks that help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding.

While the physical interventions remain important, the research highlights that resilient communities are built through people as well as projects.

Sophie would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part in the research and to the wider Slow The Flow community. This work would not have been possible without your willingness to share your experiences, perspectives and time. The findings reflect the voices of the community and the incredible contribution that volunteers continue to make across Calderdale.

📖 Read our blog:

https://slowtheflow.net/the-people-behind-natural-flood-management/

And this is the paper one
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.70245

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

09/08/2026

Exciting news!

Slow The Flow is looking to appoint a Part Time Project Manager to continue and support the development of our unique 'Water and Nature Trail'.

You can find full details of the role and how to apply on our website.

https://slowtheflow.net/new-role-at-slow-the-flow-project-manager/

This is an exciting opportunity for someone seeking flexible work who has previous experience working in the environmental or charity sector.

The Project Manager will be responsible for two elements:

Firstly, working on the development of a water and nature trail that stretches across our Calderdale catchment. The aim is to help local communities better understand our flood heritage, the local topography which contributes to the historic and most recent flooding and to promote some of the wonderful work done by Calderdale communities and charities to ‘slow the flow’.

The second part will be to implement, with local partners, nature-based and community solutions to manage water sustainably, such as rain-planters and rain water harvesting stations.
You will be supported by our warm and knowledgeable Board of Trustees, an administrator and our funding officer.

Adrian Horton, Chairperson of Slow The Flow said

“We are truly excited to be taking our first steps away from being entirely volunteer-led and towards an increased capacity for achieving our charitable mission. We would like to thank both the Community Foundation for Calderdale and National Lottery for their funding support in helping us to reach this significant milestone.”

You can find full details of the role and how to apply on our website.

https://slowtheflow.net/new-role-at-slow-the-flow-project-manager/

Project Manager Slow The Flow Salary: £32,000 p/a pro rota including benefits Contract type: One year with the potential ... Read more

22/07/2026

Join us next Tuesday 28th at 7pm at the world famous Trades Club in Hebden Bridge for an interesting evening on the Hydrology of The Calder Valley.

Speakers include one of our founding members of Slow The Flow, Mr. Stuart Bradshaw and Ms.Sophie Tankard, a current Slow The Flow Trustee.

A fascinating evening, it promises to be!

The Trades Club
Slow The Flow

08/07/2026

Slow The Flow would like to wish Steve Duncan, the CEO of the wonderful Community Foundation for Calderdale a very happy retirement. Steve and the CFFC has been an incredible supporter of ours at Slow The Flow and we wish him very well.

The recruitment process is underway to find his successor. Steve will be a very hard act to follow so if you know someone who can fill these large boots, here is the link.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DxvV8QW6i/?mibextid=wwXIfr

You may have heard our long-standing CEO Steve is retiring later this year. This means we are now looking for the next inspiring leader of the Community Foundation for Calderdale.

This is a unique opportunity to build on our strong foundations, lead our committed team and work with communities, donors, businesses and partners to create lasting positive change in Calderdale.

If this sounds exciting to you, click the link to find out more: https://cffc.co.uk/ceo-vacancy/

Please share with anyone you think may be interested.

06/07/2026

Slow The Flow advocates for nature-based solutions (NBS) to flooding. We also acknowledge that our local problems in Calderdale cannot be solved with NFM and SuDS alone, and that hard engineering schemes are needed alongside the NBS.

We are pleased to note that the Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) is moving to the next stage, and has released final plans: https://eyeoncalderdale.com/hebden-bridge-flood-alleviation-scheme/. We particularly like the NFM FAS in Brighouse, though! https://eyeoncalderdale.com/brighouse-flood-alleviation-scheme/.

Whilst we also are pleased to see progress from the Environment Agency locally, and inclusion of NFM in their plans, we need every intervention we can get to combat the flooding we already have, let alone the additional threat posed by our changing climate. Slow

The Flow urges everyone to play their part - take a look at the "You Can Slow The Flow" web pages (https://slowtheflow.net/you-can-slow-the-flow/) to see how you can help reduce flooding, at Home, Work, or School.

05/07/2026

Thanks to our MP Josh Fenton-Glyn and to Floods Minister Emma Hardy MP for referencing our work in The Calder Valley.

We have supporters in high places and we’ll continue to press our Ministers for more work on

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14fjxvJm8bs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

22/06/2026

Is Tree Planting good for biodiversity and does it help to reduce flood risk?

Absolutely!! And you can read why below!

https://slowtheflow.net/is-tree-planting-good-for-biodiversity-and-does-it-help-reduce-the-risk-of-flooding/

Our website is a huge resource so do take look through some of our pages!!

Is tree planting good for biodiversity and does it help reduce the risk of flooding? Planting trees is only the beginning of the process to reduce flood risk.