THE 20-year Flood Action Plan has received a major financial boost for natural flood management on the Somerset Levels and Moors.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund has given awards totalling £100,000 to two partner organisations of the Flood Action Plan.

The Royal Bath and West Society was awarded £50,000 with a further £50,000 given to the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West (FWAG SW), which co-ordinates land management projects for the Flood Action Plan.

The funds will be used as a crucial first stage for developing an advice and support package throughout the Levels and Moors catchment, to encourage land use that stops or slows water from entering river courses and maximises natural flood management.

It will also be the preliminary work to enable a £550,000 award from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) announced last year for the Flood Action Plan’s Land Management work, to be used for small scale capital works on farms to hold water back.

Cllr John Osman, chairman of the Flood Action Plan Leaders’ Implementation Group and leader of Somerset County Council, said: “The support of both these groups in bidding for and winning these awards, and the generosity of the Prince’s Country-side Fund, is greatly valued.

“Many funding streams are about capital work projects but vital preliminary work needs funding too, and these awards are crucial.”

Chairman of the Royal Bath and West Somerset Levels Development Fund Edwin White said: “We’re delighted to receive this grant. “Our mission is to develop agriculture, grow the rural economy and protect the environment through our leadership of the Somerset Levels Development Fund.

“We feel this project delivers a truly integrated programme that will benefit all who live and work on The Levels.”

The £50,000 awarded by the Prince’s Countryside Fund to FWAG SW, to improve the viability of farming on the Somerset Moors and Levels, includes initial work to encourage land management practices that stop or slow water entering the rivers.

Ann Langdon, senior advisor for FWAG SW, told The Mercury: “This money will enable us to work with farmers with land above The Levels, to increase the water-holding capacity of their soils, which will help reduce flooding down on The Levels.”