FARMERS in the River Tone and River Parrett catchments within Somerset will soon be able to bid online for public money for works to help stop flooding.

A new online auction called NaturEtrade NFM will be tried out this summer by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest, the Environment Agency, and Natural England.

Natural flood management (NFM) measures such as hedge-planting, woody dams, and leaky ponds will be funded by Somerset Rivers Authority as part of the award-winning Hills to Levels project. 

The SRA aims to help deliver Somerset’s 20 Year Flood Action Plan, drawn up during the devastating 2013-14 floods.

More generally, all partners want to explore new ways of paying farmers to deliver public benefits, in preparation for Brexit and consequent changes to agricultural subsidies.

Cllr John Osman, chairman of Somerset Rivers Authority, said: “The new online auction system that’s being trialled is easy to use and very interesting.

"I urge all farmers living in the Tone and Parrett catchments to take a look. 

“Use your local knowledge, tell us what you’d like to do to help reduce flood risks and we’ll fund the best, most competitively-priced ideas.” 

Farmers can register from July 23 at nfmea.sylva.org.uk.