The Rural Flood Resilience Partnership has launched a new website, where you can find new guidance developed for rural communities, farmers and landowners, which covers flood preparedness and recovery support.
Further practical guidance is due to be published in Spring 2026.
With rural communities increasingly on the frontline of extreme weather and the devastating impacts of flooding, the partnership was established to improve collaboration, deepen understanding of rural vulnerabilities, and support rural communities and agricultural businesses in building their resilience to present and future flood risks and coastal erosion.
More to be done
The partnership brings together six organisations:
- Action with Communities in Rural England.
- Association of Drainage Authorities.
- Country Land and Business Association.
- Environment Agency.
- National Farmers’ Union.
- Natural England.
“With much of the country having again experienced severe weather and flooding at the beginning of the year, it’s clear there’s still more to be done.”
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins
Delivering on its cross-sector workplan, the partnership has built a shared understanding of the unique risks that farmers, land managers and rural communities face from increasingly frequent and severe flooding.
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said the partnership had made good progress against this plan: “From the national review into rural flooding to increasing access to flooding support guidance, the partnership shows the benefits of working together on the important issue of water.
“With much of the country having again experienced severe weather and flooding at the beginning of the year, it’s clear there’s still more to be done. That is why we increasingly need a flood management system and investment that recognises the value of protecting agricultural land by maintaining and improving the assets we have.”
National review to fill knowledge gaps
The partnership is also conducting the first coordinated national review of research into rural flooding and coastal change in collaboration with Harper Adams University. This work is helping to fill longstanding gaps in understanding how rural flood impacts differ from those in towns and cities, and what approaches genuinely increase resilience. These findings will help shape future planning.
The partnership has helped to strengthen rural representation on Regional Flood and Coastal Committees and internal drainage boards and established a national ‘Community of Practice’ for people working to promote flood resilience in rural communities to learn and share best practice.
Over the next year, the group has committed to sharing research findings nationally, scaling up advice around flood resilience, deepening collaboration, and ensuring rural needs continue to help shape the services provided by the partnership’s member organisations.
The website will be regularly updated as the partnership delivers joint actions spanning research, community engagement, practical guidance and improved access to advice, strengthening flood resilience for rural communities across England.
