A DEMONSTRATION farm has been given the go-ahead to dig new ponds intended to act as natural flood management measures.

The seven ponds, and “leaky damns”, have been designed in conjunction with Monmouthshire County Council and will be created on land at Ty Mawr farm at Dingestow in north Monmouthshire.

The 180 acre farm is on the watershed between the Rivers Usk and Wye and it is intended the ponds and damns will slow the flow of water into the Trothy and the Pontyrhydan Brook which are tributaries of both major rivers. Both Abergavenny and Monmouth suffered major flooding events in November last year.

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The fields are described as a mix of pasture and arable with “very little ecological value” and it was stated the ponds would also boost biodiversity.