FAQs & Glossary
Frequently Asked Questions
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Making Space for Water is a campaign calling for support to create a network of connected, nature-rich river corridors so that our rivers can function naturally and our treasured landscapes and communities can be revived and protected.
By creating space alongside a river’s edge, we can restore natural habitats that provide critical defences to some of our greatest threats.
We can store excess water to increase our resilience to flooding and drought, provide greater public access to green and blue spaces, protect our rivers from pollution, and create well-connected landscapes with corridors where nature and wildlife flourish.
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The campaign is calling for support to create a network of connected, nature-rich river corridors so that our rivers can function naturally and our treasured landscapes and communities can be revived and protected.
We are calling for a public commitment from the Government to create a network of connected, nature-rich, multi-functional river corridors including river buffers, riparian tree planting, wet woodland and wetland initiatives all delivered at scale, making space for water.
We need targeted and simplified financial incentives for farmers and landowners to restore and enhance river corridors, including payments for river buffers, wetlands and riparian tree planting.
We are calling for our river corridors to be enhanced and restored with:
River buffers
Riparian trees and woodlands
Wetlands including wet woodland
Floodplain meadows
River wiggling and naturalisation
Beaver populations
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The edge, or interface between land and water is called the ‘riparian zone’. A healthy riparian zone will have a mixture of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees extending back from the bank for at least 10 metres, preferably more. These areas are called ‘buffer zones’.
Thriving river buffers can not help filter pollutants as water travels off land, they can cast vital shade over the river that helps stabilise water temperatures.
Shady river buffers increase the ability of rivers and aquatic life to withstand climate-related temperature increases. By reducing the impact of high seasonal temperature spikes, buffers can help aquatic species be more resilient to other pressures.
Rivers can be fantastic corridors for wildlife if there is good habitat both in the river and on the banks. A healthy riparian zone is crucial not only as wildlife habitat but for air and water quality, carbon sequestration and natural river function. (Source)
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Over the centuries, our rivers have been straightened, dammed, embanked, diverted and they have been disconnected from their floodplains. This has stopped our rivers functioning as they naturally should, reducing their potential to sustain biodiverse ecosystems and reducing their resilience to climate change.
The process of restoring or rewiggling rivers aims to help them return to their natural state. This can involve more direct human management, for example by adding bends back into a river or creating new channels. It can also enable the river to “rewild itself” and reconnect to its original floodplain by infilling parts of the stream, removing embankments, or introducing leaky barriers, made of natural materials, to slow flood flows and to create more diverse flow pathways.
By helping our rivers function naturally, they are then more able to provide essential services to our communities and businesses, such as reducing downstream flood risk and sustaining native biodiversity.
The goals are typically to reduce flooding downstream, improve water quality and boost biodiversity. (Source)
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We focus on working with farmers and landowners, not against them.
Allowing space around rivers will unlock the ability to deliver a wider range of spatially targeted, proven, cost-effective nature-based interventions that benefit both people and wildlife.
Backed by on-the-ground experience and local community partnerships, with a range of case studies at our fingertips, which could be grown at scale during this parliament.
Despite the challenging rhetoric around growth vs bats/newts, we feel this is a uniquely positive campaign, of which we hope to gain their support and allow the Labour party to take this opportunity to talk about farming and nature in a positive way.
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We know No.10 has outlined that water pollution is their number one environmental issue. This campaign is aligned with that, although our focus is not pollution, we will need to make the most of it and make sure that the campaign is aligned with that focus.
Defra’s five core priorities are: cleaning up Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas; creating a roadmap to move Britain to a zero waste economy; supporting our farmers to boost Britain’s food security; ensuring nature’s recovery; and protecting communities from the dangers of flooding. This campaign directly addresses 4 out of 5 of those priorities.
There have been some challenging narratives around growth vs bats, newts, spiders from the PM and the Chancellor. We must also acknowledge the growing anti-net zero sentiment from parliamentarians, particularly from Reform and the Conservatives, with net-zero continuously being pitted against economic growth.
However there have been some positive signs that the Government is interested in restoring nature, including the Land Use Framework consultation focusing on making space for nature and water.
The other point to consider is that Defra are fighting for their budgets, with Treasury and No.10. If we focus on solutions and streamlining processes and keep reminding them of how this campaign will help them hit their manifesto and regulatory targets, it will help Defra sell this across Whitehall.
No.10 has indicated that they wish to see pilot schemes and case studies that have worked and how they could be rolled out across the country within the next four years. We must provide them with these examples and focus on our solutions, if we are to gain traction politically.
In February 2025, Defra announced their plans to return wild-living beavers to English waterways. Successful delivery will rely on targeted and simplified financial incentives for farmers and landowners to restore and enhance river corridors.
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Wetlands
Wetlands trap pollutants such as phosphorus and heavy metals in their soils, transform nitrogen into a form that's easier for plants to take in, and physically and chemically break down bacteria.
New York City found that it could save $3 billion to $8 billion in new wastewater treatment plants by purchasing and preserving $1.5 billion in land around its upstate reservoirs. (Source)
Natural flood management - various measures
New report from Wildlife Trust and RSA Insurance shows that every £1 invested in natural flood management (NFM) is expected to deliver £10 of benefits over 30 years. The report also sets out how NFM provides wider benefits including better habitats for wildlife, carbon storage, and improvements to health and wellbeing. (Source).
The Soar NbS Project, funded by WWF and Aviva and delivered by Trent Rivers Trust, undertook modelling to better understand the potential economic benefits of NFM with the Soar. JBA Consulting were commissioned to model the full range of NFM opportunities across the Soar catchment and assess the scale of flood damage avoided.This modelling found that around £20 million worth of flood damage could be saved per major event if 50% of NFM opportunities, including wetland creation and floodplain storage, were taken up across the catchment. (Source)
The latest research is making an ever-clearer case of the cost-efficiency of nature-based solutions:
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Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme supports complex environmental land management projects, including the restoration of priority habitats, flood mitigation, and water quality improvements.
CSHT will open for applications in summer 2025 on an invitation-only basis. The invitation only requirement means that many interested applicants and projects may not be considered for funding in a timely manner resulting in missed opportunities.
In 2025, the scheme introduced new capital items, such as CSW25: Manage riparian and water edge habitats, which can be used in conjunction with options like SW12: Making space for water.
SW12- Making Space for Water
Making space for water is a Countryside Stewardship option designed to help manage flood risk and improve water quality by allowing water to flow naturally across floodplains. This option supports the creation of wetland habitats and the restoration of river dynamics, contributing to biodiversity and climate resilience.
It is currently £1,489 per hectare (ha). It is available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier on whole or part parcels on arable, temporary grassland or improved permanent grassland that meets all of the following conditions:
the site, either alone or as part of a group application, forms a natural hydrological unit
the Environment Agency have provided written support
the site is identified in a relevant Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) strategic river restoration plan, or River Basin Management Plan
More information on the scheme can be found here.
Sustainable Farming Incentive
The SFI is one of the three components of the UK Government's Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, introduced post-Brexit to replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It aims to reward farmers for delivering public goods like soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.
SFI was first piloted in 2021 and began full rollout in 2022, with updated versions (often called SFI 2023 and SFI 2.0) expanding the number of available standards and options.
SFI pays farmers for undertaking environmentally beneficial practices on their land, such as planting cover crops, reducing soil disturbance, and maintaining buffer strips.
In March 2025, the UK government announced an immediate pause on new applications to the scheme.
This decision was attributed to the rapid uptake of the program, with over 37,000 multi-year agreements already in place, leading to the exhaustion of the allocated £5 billion budget over two years.
While existing agreements will continue to be honored, no new applications are being accepted, and pending applications will be processed only if submitted before the cutoff date.
There was a water body buffering standard for farmers piloting the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme.
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But barriers remain - particularly complex, fragmented funding mechanisms that prevent landowners and communities from delivering ambitious riparian habitat enhancements or acting at scale.
Soar NbS Project involving Trent Rivers Trust, WWF and Aviva engaged with landowners during project development and found that many landowners/farmers were put off from engaging in NbS due to delays/uncertainties with Government schemes, payment rates being too low to give landowners business certainty, and were too complex. (Source)
To enable landowners and communities to create and steward rich, dynamic riparian landscapes at scale we need simplified funding, incentives for enhanced habitat creation and long term support for landowners and other partners.
Lack of strategic direction towards larger-scale, more connected interventions - agri-schemes have driven small-scale, scattered actions, which do not add up meaningfully for nature or climate resilience.
Whilst new CSHT options are promising their uptake will be limited because they are invitation only. Whilst it is important that technical advice is available it is also important that limited resources within Natural England do not compromise the benefits. One option would be to enable advice from accredited bodies.
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Sustainable Farming Incentive 2.0
Timing: Paused March, 2025, revised scheme expected post-Spending Review in mid-2025
Where it affects: England
Water Commission
Timing: Interim report in May & final report in June
Where it affects: England and Wales
Sir Jon Cunliffe has been appointed by the Government to review the water system in England and Wales.
The review is looking at strategic water management, the overarching regulatory system, economic regulation, environmental and drinking water regulation, water company ownership models, and asset health and supply chains.
The Commission’s call for evidence drew to a close in April 2025, with an interim report coming out in May, followed by the final report.
It is believed that the findings of the review will influence a second water bill in Parliament to be announced in the King’s speech 2025.
30x30: Protecting 30% of Land and Sea by 2030
Timing: Criteria confirmed in October 2024, full guidance expected in 2025.
Where it affects: England
The UK has committed to protecting 30% of its land and sea for nature by 2030, aligning with the global 30x30 target agreed at COP15 in 2022.
This commitment is enshrined within the 2023 Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). In England, criteria for land inclusion were confirmed in late 2024, and a rapid review of the EIP was conducted in January 2025 to ensure its effectiveness in delivering these ambitious targets.
Land Use Framework
Timing: 12-week consultation launched in January 2025; final framework expected later in 2025
Where it affects: England
In January 2025, the UK government launched a 12-week consultation on the proposed Land Use Framework, aiming to balance development with food production and environmental conservation.
The framework seeks to provide strategic guidance on land allocation, integrating data to inform decisions that protect prime agricultural land and promote biodiversity.
In the consultation it states “That includes actions such as supporting wildlife to move to more suitable climates, helping farmers and growers to diversify the crops they grow and the farming methods they use, renaturalising our water bodies and making space for water, and making spatial and long-term decisions about where and how we build homes and infrastructure that reduce risks from flooding.”
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Timing: Introduced in March 2025; currently going through Parliament
Where it affects: England
Introduced in March 2025, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to expedite the construction of 1.5 million homes and 150 major infrastructure projects by streamlining planning processes.
Key provisions include the establishment of a Nature Restoration Fund and reforms to compulsory purchase processes. However, environmental experts have raised concerns that the bill's measures, such as allowing developers to offset ecological damage through financial contributions, could undermine environmental protections.
Environment Act habitat creation targets
Timing: Ongoing; interim target of 140,000 hectares by 2028; final target of 500,000 hectares by 2042.
Where it affects: England
Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP)
Timing: Rapid review completed in January 2025; revised plan expected later in 2025.
Where it affects: England
The EIP, central to achieving the UK's environmental goals, underwent a rapid review in January 2025. The review highlighted the need for clearer accountability, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and better integration with other environmental initiatives.
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) warned that progress has slowed, and the government remains largely off track in meeting its legal environmental commitments.
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS)
Timing: Nationwide Rollout in March 2025
Where it affects: England
Under the Environment Act 2021, 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies are being developed to cover the whole of England. The first LNRS for the West of England was published in November 2024, with the remaining strategies expected by March 2025.
These strategies aim to identify priorities and opportunities for nature recovery, guiding local actions to enhance biodiversity.
EFRA Select Committee Inquiry into Reforming the Water Sector
Timing: all year
Where it affects: England
NFU Net Zero Strategy
Timing: Ongoing; target to achieve net zero by 2040
Where it affects: UK wide
The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has set an ambitious goal for UK agriculture to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The strategy focuses on three pillars: boosting productivity and reducing emissions, enhancing farmland carbon storage, and expanding renewable energy and the bioeconomy. Farmland carbon storage alone is estimated to deliver 9 MtCO2e/year in savings.
FIPL
The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) programme is a part of Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan. It offers funding to farmers and land managers in National Landscapes (previously known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), National Parks and the Broads. It is not an agri-environment scheme.
The programme has been extended until March 2026, with an additional £30 million of funding.
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Making Space for Water is delivered by the Riverscapes Partnership – a coalition of The Rivers Trust, National Trust, The Woodland Trust and Beaver Trust, working together with a shared vision of naturally functioning river systems as nature-rich corridors, benefitting people and wildlife.
Glossary of Terms
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Wetlands are areas where the land is saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally, creating habitats like marshes, bogs, and fens.
They deliver critical ecosystem services, including biodiversity support, flood mitigation, water filtration, and carbon storage.
A wide variety of species live in wetlands. Birds, including ducks, geese, kingfishers, and sandpipers, use wetlands as pit stops during long migrations, providing them with protection and food. Mammals like otters, beavers, and even tigers rely on wetlands to find food and shelter. And, of course, wetlands are home to many types of fish.
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Riparian trees and woodlands occupy the land situated adjacent to waterbodies such as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and reservoirs. They are critical to the natural functioning of freshwater ecosystems and form an important habitat in their own right.
The interaction between running water, tree roots and fallen wood, as well as other forms of natural and semi-natural vegetation, creates the complex and dynamic aquatic and wetland habitat mosaic needed for characteristic plants and animals to thrive.
Riparian trees and woodlands are also increasingly valued for providing a range of environmental benefits. These include stabilising stream banks and reducing channel erosion, controlling sediment and nutrient inputs from the adjacent land, regulating water temperature and helping to slow the flow of water to reduce flood risk further downstream.
Much of our riparian woodland has been lost due to clearance for development and agriculture, with what remains often highly fragmented or limited to occasional bankside trees.
Although these remnants continue to provide valuable semi-natural riparian habitat, intensification of land management and the physical modification of river channels for flood protection have severely degraded habitat condition and function, leading to the loss of water-related ecosystem services.
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Wet woodlands, sometimes referred to as carr, occur on poorly drained or seasonally wet soils and often encompass other important habitats creating a particularly valuable wetland mosaic. They are commonly found on floodplains, alongside rivers and streams, on fens and bogs and in damper areas of other woodland types. Sites are usually characterised by alder, birch and willows.
They are valuable for a range of species, providing a mosaic of habitats that support particularly rich invertebrate habitat.. They also provide a buffer against pollutants from industry and farming, so reducing the cost of public water treatment. Because of their ability to soak up, store and slow down floodwater, they also help reduce flood risk. They can help mitigate for the long-term impacts of climate change, by storing carbon.
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Botanically-rich floodplain meadows are found alongside rivers on larger flat areas that dry out sufficiently in the summer through well drained soils, that a hay crop can be taken.
Floodplain meadows are a traditional land-use with a long history (some meadows have been in continuous management for at least 1000 years). Management takes advantage of winter flooding and the nutrients this provides to ensure productive hay crops and grazing.
Floodplain meadows can also be a man made feature to enhance meadows. Beyond their ecological value, they carry deep cultural significance, reflecting centuries-old farming customs, rural livelihoods, and the intimate relationship between people and riverscapes.
Hay cuts and grazing remove nutrients from the site each year allowing botanically rich grasslands to develop. Floodplain meadows can help alleviate downstream flood risk and store carbon whilst being part of a profitable farm business.
90% of floodplains are no longer working properly. They have lost connection with their rivers due to flood alleviation and land drainage schemes. Therefore there are opportunities to restore floodplain connectivity and floodplain meadows together.
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Over the centuries, our rivers have been straightened, dammed, embanked, diverted and they have been disconnected from their floodplains. This has stopped our rivers functioning as they naturally should, reducing their potential to sustain biodiverse ecosystems and reducing their resilience to climate change.
The process of restoring or rewiggling rivers aims to help them return to their natural state. This can involve more direct human management, for example by adding bends back into a river or creating new channels. It can also enable the river to “rewild itself” and reconnect to its original floodplain by infilling parts of the stream, removing embankments, or introducing leaky barriers, made of natural materials, to slow food flows and create more diverse flow pathways.
By helping our rivers function naturally, they are then more able to provide essential services to our communities and businesses, such as reducing downstream flood risk and sustaining native biodiversity.
The goals are typically to reduce flooding downstream, improve water quality and boost biodiversity.
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Beavers once shaped Britain’s waterways, creating thriving wetlands and complex river systems brimming with invertebrates, amphibians, birds and fish before they were hunted to extinction 400 years ago. Beavers are a keystone species, referred to as ‘ecosystems engineers’. As we look to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies, restoring healthy, genetically diverse populations of beavers to their former range across Britain will help us build climate resilient landscapes and restore freshwater habitats and the species that rely on them.
In February 2025 Defra announced their plans to restore beavers to the wild in England, and opened an expression of interest window for anyone interested in applying for a wild release licence. Those projects which fulfill the criteria will be invited to go through the full licence application process for releases, which we expect to start this winter.