Essential tools, resources and updates to help rural communities prepare for and respond to severe weather are now available through a new website launched by the Rural Flood Resilience Partnership .
The platform brings together updated guidance for rural communities, farmers and landowners, covering both flood preparedness and recovery. Additional practical guidance, including advice on improving the resilience of farm buildings, is expected to be added later this year.
The Rural Flood Resilience Partnership, established in 2024, brings together six national organisations: the Environment Agency , National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), Association of Drainage Authorities (ADA), Country Land and Business Association (CLA), and Natural England .
Since its formation, the partnership has worked to strengthen rural representation on Regional Flood and Coastal Committees and internal drainage boards. It has also established a national Community of Practice, enabling those working on rural flood resilience to share knowledge, experience and best practice.
Corinne Pluchino, Chief Executive, Action With Communities In Rural England, said:
The Rural Flood Resilience Partnership is all about bringing different perspectives and expertise together with a shared sense of purpose.
We’re already starting to see how local knowledge and shared effort can make a real difference.
As we head into 2026, we will build on this momentum and increase the support available, to help strengthen rural resilience and deliver lasting benefits for local communities.
Looking ahead, the partnership will undertake the first coordinated national review of research into rural flooding and coastal change, in collaboration with Harper Adams University. This work aims to address gaps in understanding how flooding impacts rural areas differently from urban settings, and to identify approaches that most effectively improve resilience. The findings will help inform future planning.
The partnership has also committed to sharing research more widely, scaling up practical advice, and ensuring that rural needs continue to shape the services delivered by its member organisations.