Farmers and landowners across Cumbria can get information about how to reduce flood risk thanks to a new guide.

Cumbria Strategic Flood Partnership has published a booklet entitled Natural Flood Management Measures: A Guide for Farmers, which seeks to help reduce flood risk across Cumbria and Lancashire.

The guide will assist farmers, landowners and other interested organisations by advising them on a range of measures to keep flood water in the landscape for longer, reducing the speed of water reaching residential areas.

These measures include: keeping soil in good condition, restoring hedgerows and building dams. Using these will also deliver other benefits, such as improving wildlife habitats and cleaning water.

The aim of these measures is not to make land wetter, but to hold water during heavy rainfall, and allow it to drain away at a slower rate. A reduced rate of drainage will help to put a stop to destructive flood damage.

Stewart Mounsey, Environment Agency flood risk manager, said: "Natural flood management can be a cost effective and sustainable way to manage flood risk alongside supporting traditional engineering."

The guide released this week is a part of the wider work of West Cumbria Rivers Trust, which aims to increase the use of natural flood management measures. The trust is visiting farmers for one-on-one discussions about opportunities on their land.

Caitlin Pearson, West Cumbria Rivers Trust project manager, said: “Natural flood management is not a full solution to reducing flood risk, but it can help, particularly for smaller rivers, and can reduce the pressure on engineered flood defences.”

The guide is based on a similar booklet that has been well received in the Yorkshire Dales.