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A better way of managing water is essential if we are to cope with a
future where more frequent flooding and drought are likely to become
the norm.
In the light of a new Trust report, From Source to Sea, Fiona
Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, said:
'For too long we’ve taken water for granted in the UK. We ignore its
importance and its potential to impact on all our lives, at our
peril.'
The report reveals that 120 National Trust sites (10 per cent of the
total) are already at very high risk of flash flooding and by 2050
more than a third of our sites could be affected by drought and major
water shortages. We have been working with tenant farmers, local
authorities, Government agencies, academics and others to take
practical steps to deal with these testing challenges of managing
water in a changing climate.
We believe there is an urgent need for a more joined-up approach to
managing water, working with nature, protecting wildlife and
landscapes, safeguarding people from risks and extremes and providing
the sustainable supply of clean water that we all depend upon. This
approach needs to start in the hills, where land management for water
benefits the communities and land downstream. Having a good quality
water environment reduces the risk of flooding, provides cleaner water
(with potential for lower water bills), and gives more space for
wildlife to thrive and survive.
Fiona Reynolds continued:
'We’re now dealing with a legacy of water mis-management and mis-use
of its apparent plentiful supply. This ‘blue gold’ is a finite
resource for us all and unlike oil there is no substitute for water.
It is vital that landowners, farmers, the water industry, the
Government and its agencies come together and work with natural
processes to safeguard water from source to sea'.
The Trust and water
- A recent assessment revealed that 43 per cent of land in England and
Wales drains to the boundary of land owned by the National Trust.
- 5 per cent of Trust land and nearly 2,000 of our buildings are at
high risk of flooding (1 in 100 years).
- 27 per cent of Trust properties have areas designated as Special
Areas of Conservation – these support wildlife and habitats of
European importance.
- By 2050 more than one third of National Trust sites could be
affected by drought and water shortages.
- 92 per cent of National Trust land provides groundwater suitable for
drinking.
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