Simple Solutions to Stop Flooding
Simple solutions to stop flooding do exist, and you would be surprised how simple they are, it just requires a few changes to government policy. The problem is that only a few people really own most land, so policy never changes to what is needed, it just is obsessed with keeping the status quo, to benefit the few.
Of course, climate change is causing freak weather, but also lack of trees does not help, as trees soak up water. Recently the government tried to sell off the remaining forests to industry and only a petition by 38 Degrees stopped it, otherwise we would have even worse problems.
Flooding does not just cause people to lose their homes, but also results in unsafe electrics, harm to people and wildlife and pets, and huge insurance costs. Then often people move in, and it floods again. Caroline Lucas said that people don’t want Boris Johnson turning up to offer help with a mop, they want policy changes to prevent floods. Likewise, Royal visits by those who go grouse-shooting (see below) would be better served by not grouse-shooting (which helps to cause the floods in the first place).
- The Superpower Field Guide to Beavers is a fun book introducing us to one of nature’s super-heroes. Beavers love to build dams, and are at the forefront of helping us to prevent floods. This colour book doles out facts with humour, to have everyone falling in love.
- One big cause of floods is removing peat bogs, in order to grow heather that attracts wild grouse, for shooting parties. Former RSPB director Mark Avery says grouse shoots also endanger other wildlife (mountain hares are killed as they carry mites that affect grouse. And it’s suspected that endangered hen harriers are also shot, due to being natural predators of grouse (report to Wildlife Crime Unit). Read his book Inglorious: Conflict In the Uplands.
- Floodsax sandless bags fill with water to make instant sandbags. They require no heavy lifting, can mould to shape doors, and are easily disposed of, without pollution. One Yorkshire warehouse prevented £360K of damage.