A PROJECT to defend homes and businesses on the Somerset Levels from flooding has won £750,000 thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

The handout to ‘Taming the floods – Somerset Levels’ was one of three awards to charities announced at a gala event in Edinburgh.

The project is run by a partnership between The Royal Bath and West of England Society, Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group in response to flooding in recent years.

It aims to protect the Levels against future flooding and rebuild pride and ecological celebration within the landscape.

It is hoped that discussions will lead to collaboration between landowners and communities to improve flood defences by hedge and wood planting, creating debris dams and digging ditches, bringing lasting change to the Somerset Levels and safeguarding the area for future generations.

Edwin White, chairman of the Somerset Levels Development Fund, said: "Our project will help reduce the extent of damaging flooding such as we have seen in recent years by reducing water flowing from the upper to the lower catchments on the Somerset Levels and helping support a thriving, resilient wetland landscape.

“This will help protect this unique environment as well as the homes and livelihoods of the communities who live and work on the Levels."

Clara Govier, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “We are delighted that funding from players will enable the development of a plan for flood management on the Somerset Levels to allow communities to better prepare themselves from future floods, allowing them to safeguard their homes and businesses.”

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