Natural Flood Management (NFM) is a tool to help reduce flood risk. It complements other flood risk management approaches and involves working across the landscape to protect, restore or mimic the natural hydrological processes that occur.

This handbook is divided into four parts.

Part A provides an overview of natural flood management and a high-level checklist of the steps to deliver it.

Part B describes the philosophy of NFM and the first part of the delivery process – how to set up a project for success and choose appropriate NFM sites and measures.

Part C gives more detailed information on a range of inland NFM measures. There are 12 measures covered in the manual and of these four are covered in a greater depth – runoff management, runoff storage, leaky barriers, floodplain reconnection. The others are given a short overview with signposts to further detail.

Part D provides detailed information on the NFM delivery process

This manual is aimed at lead local flood authorities, Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards, water and sewerage companies, National Highways, Forestry Commission, landowners and land managers, Rivers Trusts and other relevant NGOs, relevant local community groups, catchment partnerships, occupiers and tenants, universities and research organisations.