Talk - Working with Nature: The Upper Mole Natural Flood Management Project

Join us at Rusper Village Hall for an evening hosted by the South East Rivers Trust, supported by Gatwick Airport. Join us: • For tea, coffee and bisuits, before an evening talk about our projects in the Rusper area: What you can expect: Join us for an evening presentation at the Rusper Village Hall to learn more about this innovative local project and the positive impact it is having across the Upper Mole catchment. Our team will explain the challenges facing local rivers and streams, the measures that have been implemented on farms and other landholdings in the area, and how these interventions are helping to work with nature to improve water management. More background information: The Upper Mole catchment is characterised by impermeable clay soils and extensive areas of hardstanding, including Gatwick Airport. As a result, rainfall can rapidly enter local watercourses, increasing flood risk during heavy rain, reducing river flows during dry periods, and affecting water quality through both urban and rural runoff. Working in partnership with Gatwick Airport as part of its second Decade of Change, the South East Rivers Trust has delivered a catchment-scale Natural Flood Management project in the headwaters of the River Mole, near Rusper. The project uses a range of nature-based solutions designed to slow the flow of water, improve water quality, support wildlife, and help make the catchment more resilient to both flooding and drought. Since project conception in July 2024, the South East Rivers Trust have engaged multiple landowners throughout the Rusper area, and focused their efforts on the Baldhorns Brook, near the source of the River Mole. As SERT finalise a successful Phase 1, we are looking to expand our efforts further afield into another of the Upper Mole tributaries, helping to develop solutions to farm-specific challenges that also contribute to wider catchment benefits. During the event, you'll learn about the design and delivery of the project, the challenges and opportunities encountered along the way, and the role that Natural Flood Management can play in building more resilient catchments. There will also be plenty of opportunities to ask questions, share experiences and discuss how similar approaches could be implemented elsewhere. Whether you're a local resident, practitioner, local authority representative, student, or simply interested in nature-based solutions, we'd be delighted to welcome you. Come along and discover how nature-based solutions are helping to protect and enhance the Upper Mole catchment for future generations. What you need to know: 🕒 When: Tuesday 22nd September, 6.30pm-8.30pm. 📍Where to meet: Main Hall, Rusper Village Hall, Rusper, Horsham, RH12 4PR. • Google map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bS9Krj6rsD1YUJSR6 • What3words - ///closets.signified.dared • Nearest station: Faygate Station - 5 mins by car. Crawley Station - 17 mins by car. 🚗 Parking: Parking is free on the neighbouring streets around Rusper. 👉 Booking is preferable so we can guage numbers for the evening. What do you need to bring? • Nothing specific. We will provide tea, coffee, biscuits and light refreshments throughout the evening. Accessibility: If you have any questions about access or physical requirements, please get in touch before the event. Questions? Please email us at [email protected] Legal bits To read our Health and Safety Guidelines for this event please click HERE. Photos and video footage will be taken at this event and used by the Trust for promotional purposes (including but not limited to printed materials, social media, newsletters and the website) and potentially shared with our external partners and funders. From time to time, external media agencies could also take photos, film or record our events. The Trust’s lawful basis for processing this is “Legitimate Interests” under the General Data Protection Regulations. As an individual you have rights. If you wish for SERT to stop processing this data for you, please talk to a member of staff or email [email protected]. To read our Privacy Policy and see how we use and look after the information you provide when booking your spot at our events please click HERE.