Catchment to Coast


Supporting communities to build flood and coastal resilience from source to sea


Spanning from Southend-on-Sea to Thurrock we will use innovative solutions to improve whole-catchment resilience from nature-based solutions in the upper catchment, rainwater harvesting in the mid, to tackling coastal erosion of historic landfills.


Sign up to our Mailing List here(External link)


The Catchment to Coast project primarily covers areas within the city of Southend-on-Sea and borough of Thurrock. The project will take a catchment-based approach to tackling flooding and coastal erosion, with the primary objective of reducing surface water flood risk and erosion of historic landfill sites.

The project will also provide opportunities for community co-design, the collection of local knowledge and PhD collaboration to trial innovative techniques to improve flood and erosion resilience while utilizing smart tools for monitoring and evaluation.



We hope to create an interconnected solution through implementing specific measures in the upper, middle and lower areas of the catchment. Measures include:

Upper catchment (above Stanford-le-Hope and Shoebury, Prittle Brook)

  • Installing integrated nature-based water management and land management solutions such as leaky dams at Belfairs.

Mid catchment (Stanford-le-Hope, Shoebury)

  • Installing rainwater harvesting in individual homes near pinch points in the sewer system, and storm-water harvesting for greywater purposes (e.g. allotments)

  • Installing local monitoring and early warning systems in the mid catchment (Stanford-le-Hope, Shoebury)

Lower catchment / coast (Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Fobbing Marsh, Canvey Island, Two Tree Island, the seawall at Hadleigh and Leigh Station)

  • Installing biotiles or bioblocks for patch and repair works to maintain or improve existing and increase biodiversity

  • Enhancing saltmarsh establishment and regeneration


Read about some of our measures below


Leaky Dams at Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre

In the upper (Western) Prittle Book channel, 20 leaky dams embedded with mycelium on the Prittle Brook will hold water for longer and reduce flows downstream. This will be particularly important for roads downstream of the woods as times of heavy rainfall can cause flash flooding.

Once installed, leaky dams will create a wet woodland that will have the capacity to hold vast amounts of water and prevent flash floods downstream. The mycelium or ‘mushroom fungi’ will act as a natural filter and improve water quality at the same time!



High-level monitoring software helped determined where to put the dams. Eight ‘flow monitors’ will help record how effective the dams are and their impact on the flow of the water. There are many different ways to build a leaky dam, we will be incorporating different designs throughout the brook that use natural material from the area like logs and rocks.


Rainwater Harvesting on Juniper Road

7 Juniper Road will be installed with as many water saving devices as we could think of! The retrofit of the property includes providing water storage and re-use facilities that will reduce the ‘Blue Footprint’ of the house. The property is owned by Southend City Council but a family is due to move into the property in later on in the year.

Coming soon: house spec and open day

To get the latest updates sign up to our mailing list(External link)


Incorporating Local Knowledge

Our Stories from Source to Sea project provides an opportunity for residents to share their local knowledge through storytelling. Examples may include stories of historic flooding or erosion events, land changes at sites where measures are planned and the impact of this on community and culture.

This collecting and sharing of local knowledge and stories contributes to Catchment to Coast on a wider basis by:

  • Spreading awareness of the issue of flood and coastal erosion
  • Highlighting previously unknown site factors (that might influence projects)
  • Highlighting relevant voices in the community
  • Directing and signposting to key influencers in the community and further collaboration opportunities


Are you a resident of Southend-on-Sea or Thurrock?

Do you work in the area? We want to hear from you!


Get in touch to participate in Stories from Source to Sea. Send your stories or arrange a meeting via info@catchmenttocoast.uk(External link) alternatively you can send us a voice note or message on WhatsApp at 07597578128.


Coming soon: our newsletter and website


Our project will:

  1. pilot and evaluate a visual early warning system for high-risk surface water locations through improvements to local telemetry,
  2. install integrated water management systems, with consideration given to storm water harvesting for community uses through the use of natural flood management and land management practices,
  3. address the resilience gap in coastal erosion management for coastal historic landfill sites


How our project is testing innovation

As part of the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme we will be testing 3 resilience actions

  • Integrated water management solutions
  • Nature based solutions
  • Enhanced flood warning systems

Visit the programme evaluation page to find out more


Who we are working with

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council (Project lead), Thurrock Borough Council (Key project partner), Castle Point Borough Council, Anglian Water – Catchment Management Team, Essex Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Thames 21, King’s College London, AmbioTEK CIC, University of Essex, Rochford Council, Exo Engineering, Water Offsets and Hydrorock.

Our project will be delivered by an established partnership between Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Borough Councils and build upon a history of successful joint scheme deliveries. We will develop links with key stakeholders in the area, ranging from other government organisations, wildlife charities, utility companies and academic institutions, to deliver multiple benefits.


Supporting communities to build flood and coastal resilience from source to sea


Spanning from Southend-on-Sea to Thurrock we will use innovative solutions to improve whole-catchment resilience from nature-based solutions in the upper catchment, rainwater harvesting in the mid, to tackling coastal erosion of historic landfills.


Sign up to our Mailing List here(External link)


The Catchment to Coast project primarily covers areas within the city of Southend-on-Sea and borough of Thurrock. The project will take a catchment-based approach to tackling flooding and coastal erosion, with the primary objective of reducing surface water flood risk and erosion of historic landfill sites.

The project will also provide opportunities for community co-design, the collection of local knowledge and PhD collaboration to trial innovative techniques to improve flood and erosion resilience while utilizing smart tools for monitoring and evaluation.



We hope to create an interconnected solution through implementing specific measures in the upper, middle and lower areas of the catchment. Measures include:

Upper catchment (above Stanford-le-Hope and Shoebury, Prittle Brook)

  • Installing integrated nature-based water management and land management solutions such as leaky dams at Belfairs.

Mid catchment (Stanford-le-Hope, Shoebury)

  • Installing rainwater harvesting in individual homes near pinch points in the sewer system, and storm-water harvesting for greywater purposes (e.g. allotments)

  • Installing local monitoring and early warning systems in the mid catchment (Stanford-le-Hope, Shoebury)

Lower catchment / coast (Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Fobbing Marsh, Canvey Island, Two Tree Island, the seawall at Hadleigh and Leigh Station)

  • Installing biotiles or bioblocks for patch and repair works to maintain or improve existing and increase biodiversity

  • Enhancing saltmarsh establishment and regeneration


Read about some of our measures below


Leaky Dams at Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre

In the upper (Western) Prittle Book channel, 20 leaky dams embedded with mycelium on the Prittle Brook will hold water for longer and reduce flows downstream. This will be particularly important for roads downstream of the woods as times of heavy rainfall can cause flash flooding.

Once installed, leaky dams will create a wet woodland that will have the capacity to hold vast amounts of water and prevent flash floods downstream. The mycelium or ‘mushroom fungi’ will act as a natural filter and improve water quality at the same time!



High-level monitoring software helped determined where to put the dams. Eight ‘flow monitors’ will help record how effective the dams are and their impact on the flow of the water. There are many different ways to build a leaky dam, we will be incorporating different designs throughout the brook that use natural material from the area like logs and rocks.


Rainwater Harvesting on Juniper Road

7 Juniper Road will be installed with as many water saving devices as we could think of! The retrofit of the property includes providing water storage and re-use facilities that will reduce the ‘Blue Footprint’ of the house. The property is owned by Southend City Council but a family is due to move into the property in later on in the year.

Coming soon: house spec and open day

To get the latest updates sign up to our mailing list(External link)


Incorporating Local Knowledge

Our Stories from Source to Sea project provides an opportunity for residents to share their local knowledge through storytelling. Examples may include stories of historic flooding or erosion events, land changes at sites where measures are planned and the impact of this on community and culture.

This collecting and sharing of local knowledge and stories contributes to Catchment to Coast on a wider basis by:

  • Spreading awareness of the issue of flood and coastal erosion
  • Highlighting previously unknown site factors (that might influence projects)
  • Highlighting relevant voices in the community
  • Directing and signposting to key influencers in the community and further collaboration opportunities


Are you a resident of Southend-on-Sea or Thurrock?

Do you work in the area? We want to hear from you!


Get in touch to participate in Stories from Source to Sea. Send your stories or arrange a meeting via info@catchmenttocoast.uk(External link) alternatively you can send us a voice note or message on WhatsApp at 07597578128.


Coming soon: our newsletter and website


Our project will:

  1. pilot and evaluate a visual early warning system for high-risk surface water locations through improvements to local telemetry,
  2. install integrated water management systems, with consideration given to storm water harvesting for community uses through the use of natural flood management and land management practices,
  3. address the resilience gap in coastal erosion management for coastal historic landfill sites


How our project is testing innovation

As part of the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme we will be testing 3 resilience actions

  • Integrated water management solutions
  • Nature based solutions
  • Enhanced flood warning systems

Visit the programme evaluation page to find out more


Who we are working with

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council (Project lead), Thurrock Borough Council (Key project partner), Castle Point Borough Council, Anglian Water – Catchment Management Team, Essex Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Thames 21, King’s College London, AmbioTEK CIC, University of Essex, Rochford Council, Exo Engineering, Water Offsets and Hydrorock.

Our project will be delivered by an established partnership between Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Borough Councils and build upon a history of successful joint scheme deliveries. We will develop links with key stakeholders in the area, ranging from other government organisations, wildlife charities, utility companies and academic institutions, to deliver multiple benefits.

What else would you like to know about our project?

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  • I run youth groups for Southend City Council for children and young people ages 5-18. How can we work with you?

    Victoria Pallen asked over 1 year ago

    Hi Victoria, thanks for your message! We are currently designing our school and kids engagement sessions. I'd love to chat more about how we can work together over video chat. Maybe we can arrange a call next week? Please email me at clementine.moule@thames21.org.uk(External link) or our wider team email info@catchmenttocoast.uk(External link). I look forward to hearing from you.

    - Clementine, Catchment to Coast Project Officer

Page last updated: 23 Aug 2023, 04:33 PM