Farmers in the hills of Denbighshire are set to launch a project to prevent further flooding in two county towns most at risk.

Ruthin and St Asaph have both suffered significant flooding in the past after torrential rain overwhelmed existing river defences.

Now a collaborative, sustainable, natural flood-risk management project has been rolled out by rural regeneration organisation, Cadwyn Clwyd, which aims to reduce the flow of rainwater and prevent surges entering the river Clwyd after heavy rainfall.

The scheme will encourage farmers in the upper reaches of the Clwyd to plant new, or restore, old hedges, create small woodlands, shelter belts and use ‘leaky log’ dams on hillside streams to hold back the surges of water that can cause disruptive floods. Some soil management will also take place.

This project will spend £330,000 on an upland catchment area of the Clwyd and a similar amount on the river Elwy, which flows through St Asaph.

According to Cadwyn Clwyd’s Gwyn Rowlands, the project will not only help natural flood defence but will also prove invaluable for the farmers involved as the hedgerows and woodlands will provide shelter for livestock, aid livestock management and reduce soil erosion.

He said: “We have seen the devastation and misery flooding can cause so the anticipated project spend of £240,000 on direct capital works in the uplands is a drop in the ocean when compared to the potential benefits. In addition to the community and general farming benefits, the scheme will also be good for wildlife because hedges provide habitat for all kinds of birds and animals and provide connectivity between existing areas of habitat.

“The scheme also fosters more co-operation between groups of farmers and in time will increase the use of rural skills like hedge-laying.”

Cadwyn Clwyd has worked closely with a number of upland farmers situated within this specific catchment area in the River Clwyd Natural Flood Risk Management project

Bethan Roberts, of Cefn Mawr, a sheep farmer, said: “There are benefits to the hill farmers, to the communities downstream and to the wildlife and the environment so it has to be good news for all.”