Heavier and more severe rainfall has led to flooding becoming more and more frequent. This is increasing the flooding pressure on hard, built up landscapes.
Across the UK, one in six homes are already at risk. As costs rise, communities have an important role in identifying local flood risks and working with nature to reduce them.
How communities can identify flood risk
Understanding how water moves during heavy rain is the first step. Communities can:
- Organise “rain walks” after heavy rainfall to see where water pools or flows quickly.
- Talk to long-term residents about where flooding has happened before.
- Map local hotspots such as flooded streets, basements, gardens, blocked drains or low-lying land.
- Note hard surfaces (large paved areas, driveways, car parks) where water cannot soak into the ground.
These simple actions help build a clear picture of local flood risk and provide evidence to share with decision-makers.
What communities can do next
Once risk areas are identified, communities can work with partners to introduce nature-based solutions, also known as Natural Flood Management (NFM) and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs). These approaches slow, storeand absorb water before it reaches homes.
Examples include:
- Creating rain gardens and swales along streets
- De-paving driveways and verges to allow water to soak in
- Restoring or creating wetlands and ponds
- Planting trees to increase water absorption
- Re-naturalising rivers and installing features such as leaky dams
Research shows these solutions are highly cost-effective, delivering long-term environmental, social and economic benefits alongside flood protection. See Wildlife Trusts report on NFM for more details.
Who to speak to and where to get support
Communities do not need to act alone. The first point of contact should be:
- Your local council’s flood risk or climate/environment team
- The Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) (usually the county council or unitary authority)
- The Environment Agency
- Local Wildlife Trusts or environmental charities
These organisations can provide advice, help assess feasibility, identify funding opportunities, and ensure projects align with local flood strategies.
By identifying risks early and working with local authorities to deliver nature-based solutions, communities can reduce flooding while creating greener, healthier neighbourhoods for the future.
How communities can identify flood risk and reduce future flooding with nature-based solutions
Flooding is becoming more frequent and severe as climate change brings heavier rainfall and puts increasing pressure on hard, built-up landscapes. Across the UK, one in six homes is already at risk of flooding, and the costs of flood damage are projected to rise significantly in the coming decades. Communities therefore have a vital role to play in both identifying where flood risk exists and helping to reduce it using natural, locally appropriate solutions.
The first step is understanding where water behaves during heavy rain. Communities can do this by drawing on local knowledge and observation. Flood risk often reveals itself in visible ways: streets that regularly pool with water, gardens and basements that flood, blocked drains, or low-lying land where water lingers. Community “rain walks” after storms, conversations with long-term residents, and shared mapping exercises can help identify hotspots where rainfall flows quickly off hard surfaces rather than soaking into the ground.
Once risk areas are identified, communities can work with local authorities and environmental organisations to match these risks with nature-based solutions. Natural flood management (NFM) focuses on slowing, storing and absorbing water before it reaches homes and infrastructure. Examples include creating rain gardens and swales in streets, de-paving driveways and verges, restoring wetlands and ponds in low-lying areas, planting trees, and re-naturalising rivers and streams. These approaches help water soak into the land, reducing flood peaks during heavy rainfall.
Evidence shows that these solutions are not only effective but highly cost-efficient. Research commissioned by RSA Insurance and The Wildlife Trusts found that every £1 invested in natural flood management delivers around £10 in benefits over 30 years. Case studies such as beaver-created wetlands on the River Otter in Devon, rain gardens and de-paving projects in Gloucester and Cheltenham, and leaky dams in urban catchments demonstrate how working with nature can significantly reduce flood risk while also supporting wildlife, storing carbon, and improving health and wellbeing.
Crucially, community involvement increases the success of these projects. When residents help identify problems, shape solutions, and care for green spaces, nature-based interventions are more likely to be accepted, maintained, and expanded over time. As the research highlights, investing in nature should be a first line of defence against flooding, delivering protection for people while creating healthier, greener neighbourhoods for the future.