The steep slopes of Swinyard Hill can cause water to cascade quickly after heavy rain, sometimes leading to flooding at the foot of the hill.
In January 2026, 11 “leaky dams” were installed in the small watercourses running down the eastern side of the hill. Seven were placed on Malvern Hills Trust land by volunteers working alongside Malvern Hills Trust and Malvern Hills National Landscape staff and a local contractor, and four on private land.
These small, low-cost interventions aim to slow water flow and reduce flood risk. While it will take time to see the full impact, experience elsewhere shows that measures like these can make a real difference. Funding for the project was provided by Worcestershire County Council.
