On these pages you will find our current group notes, for older files look in our archives records

2026

26th February 2026 - Multi Agency Meeting with National Flood Forum

The meeting was attended by National Flood Forum, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, John Bellis - Shropshire Council Flood Officier, and Andy Keyland - SC Highways. From our Flood Group : Clive Martyn, Paul and Sharon Constable, and Tom O'Boyle attended

Our Flood Action Plan was update with progress made. The setting up email access to timeview intruments locally our googlegroup email will be used, John Bellis will set up. The necessary compensatory works at the new Bache Mill development reviewed, The bank erosion of the stream beside Diddlebrook Barn. The pothole and blocked drains on the B4368 bridge discussed AK said he would get the drain cleared. The Bouldon works has been completed - thank you to all, (Seeded bags were used to improve binding). Sarah from Shropshire Wildlife described the work carried out at Wetmore, Ludlow. Agreed that highways will deliver 3 flood signs for Diddlebury to set out during flood events.

 

9th February 2026 - Leaky Dams

Clive Martyn - Diddlebury Flood Group visted the upper reach of the Diddle Brook with Sarah Markness -Shropshire Wildlife Trust. Accompanied by Jack Wrigley - Delbury Estates, Roger Mansell - Delbury Estate, William Watts - Diddlebury Parish Council.

The object was for Shropshire Wildlife Trust (appointed by Shropshire Council), to assess sites in which new leaky dams could be built replacing the old 2015 vintage dams. Many of the earlier dams have silted up or broken down. Sarah explained since these dams were built many design improvements have succeeded. 

Three new sites on the brook were demostrated to Sarah. Each site shown would allow for a larger leaky dam to be built, trapping a volume of water in natural basins. 

 

2025

Storm Claudia - October 2025

With the ground soaked by days of rain previously, the waterways were bound to rise significantly. The first real filling of our waterways has now passed.

The Diddlebury gauge has stopped working - reported. I did visually check the sight gauge and it showed a maximum of 0.6m. (Last November it was a recorded height of 1.6m).

All other gauges were working fine, and the water levels  tracked at Boulden reached its peak at 18:15 on 14th November 2025.

B4368 Bridge developed a large puddle of standing water on its north side, reported again on FixMyStreet.

Amazingly the brook in Mill Lane did not breach its  banks this time. There are two drains on right near Delbury Farm that are overgrown and blocked I have reported on Fix my street. Again the drain by the bridge struggles but ok. - Sharon

Some after flowing across the road at the Middlehope junction but we had cleared all the drains and all running away as required. Local farmers my do some work to widen the broom above the junction in an effort to keep the water in the brook as opposed to overflowing onto the road and then washing debris onto the drain covers, which easily block. - Ian

Flood Forum Meeting with Culmington and Ludlow Flood Action Groups – 6th May 2025

At the meeting the meeting each FAG introduced their current status in terms of their action plans.

At the meeting there were 5 members from Culmington, 2 from Ludlow, and myself together with Abbi and Katia from the Flood Forum. Thank you for the apologies from Sharon Constable and Ian Baston.

The topics discussed were

• A live willow fence built along the embankment of s stream to prevent further bank erosion.
• The Severn – Wye EA run group, which Roger from Culmington FAG has been invited to join.
• Another Culmington FAG member explained how subsoiling his fields had improved moisture retention as well as other benefits such as a longer grazing period.
• How communicating with others has been very important to get messages across relating improving flood resilience in their area.
• Leaky dams, and how well they are perceived to be working.
• Shropshire Council is currently in the process of updating the flood strategy, as like you say it is 10 years old. Once the first draft is complete, John Bellis would like the Flood Action Groups to review it and provide comments on what they would like to see in the new strategy. 
• Culmington FAG explained how they started by mapping all the drains, then were able to suggest necessary improvements to council departments.

Possible Takeouts for Diddlebury FAG

1. The subsoiling idea could be discussed as a possible solution for the water runoff that affects the Diddlebury Primary school. I understand that there is a contractor nearby. Sharon are you still discussing options with at  school governors meeting?
2. Should we confirm drains in our territory against the Shropshire council map?