Somerset And North Somerset Area - Annual Flail, Weed Cutting And Herbicide Spraying Programme For 2026

ANNUAL FLAIL, WEED CUTTING AND HERBICIDE SPRAYING PROGRAMME FOR 2026

Notice to farmers and occupiers in the Somerset and North Somerset area

The Environment Agency is advising landowners and occupiers with land adjoining main rivers that the 2026 flood risk management vegetation control programme will take place between May and October. At the time of writing, the Environment Agency has just received its allocation for 26/27 and is currently working out where to prioritise. The rivers listed below are those where maintenance will take place if it is affordable once the programme has been finalised.

The work involves either removing in-channel weed from main rivers using heavy plant and/or using herbicide (glyphosate) sprays in places where there is no machine access. In many cases, cutting of vegetation on the bank is necessary prior to weed cutting taking place, or to allow appropriate inspection of banks.

Please remember that an 8-metre strip of land from the top of the bank or back toe of a flood bank should be kept clear for heavy machinery access and maintenance works, as required by local bye laws. Whilst we make all efforts to minimise damage to crops, we work to very tight deadlines so we can complete all necessary maintenance through the growing season. We prefer not to use formal enforcement processes, but to work with landowners wherever possible to make the process more efficient and ensure funds go further. This approach relies on mutual cooperation, so we thank you in advance for your support in enabling the programme.

Please note that this programme is for guidance only, and we may have to vary it due to weather conditions, weed growth and machine availability.

Herbicide spraying - from April onwards
North Somerset -Alham, Axe, Banwell, Black Ditch, Blind Pill, Blind Yeo, Brent River, Cheddar Yeo, Clapton Drove Rhyne, Clevedon Boundary Rhyne, Congresbury Yeo, Cross Rhyne, Hixham Rhyne, James Wear, Kenn, Land Yeo Lower, Landcourse Rhyne, Mark Yeo, Old Cheddar Canal, Portbury Ditch, Sandy Rhyne, Shipham Rhyne, Sperrings Rhyne, Tickenham Boundary Rhyne, Uphill Great Rhyne, Walton Brook, Weston Drove Rhyne, Yearling Ditch, Tidal Banks/Coastal Defences.

Somerset - River Tone (Taunton), Saltmoor Main Drain, Hillfarrance Flood Alleviation Scheme, West Coker flood relief channel, Norton Brook and Galmington Stream.

Flail and weed cutting - from May onwards

Axe, Axe (Knowle and Bleadney), Back Ditch, Banwell, Black Ditch, Blind Pill, Blind Yeo, Brent River, Brue Lower, Burrow Wall Rhyne, Cannington Brook, Chedzoy New Cut (partial), Challis Wall Rhyne, Cheddar Yeo, Clapton Drove Rhyne, Clevedon Boundary Rhyne, Combwich Brook, Congresbury Yeo Lower, Cripps, Cross Rhyne, Currymoor Engine Rhyne, Currymoor Main Drain, Dun ball Rhyne, Durleigh Brook, Glastonbury Canal, Glastonbury Millstream, Hamp Brook Rhyne, Haymoor Main Drain, Hinton Meads Brook, Hixham Rhyne, Huish Level Rhyne, Huntspill Back Ditches, Huntworth Stream, Isle, James Weir River, Kenn, Keward Brook, Kingsmoor Main Drain (partial), Langacre Rhyne, Land Yeo Lower, Long Load Main Drain, Long Sutton Main Drain & Catchwater, Mark Yeo, Misbrook Rhyne (partial), North Drain, North Street Rhyne, Northmoor Inlet, Northmoor Main Drain, Pan borough Relief Channel, Parrett, Penzoy, Penzoy in Southlake, Pool mead Rhyne (Partial), Portbury Ditch, River Kenn (Upper) & Aquascythe, Saltmoor Main Drain, Saltmoor Rhyne, Sandy Rhyne, Sheppey, Shipham Rhyne, Shortwall Rhyne, South Drain, South Moor Main Drain, Sowy (partial), Sperrings Rhyne, Stan moor Main Drain, Stockmoor Rhyne, Thorneymoor Main Drain, Tickenham Boundary Rhyne, Tone, Uphill Great Rhyne, Walton Brook, West Moor Main Drain, West Port Canal, West Sedgemoor Main Drain, Witcombe Bottom Main Drain, Yeo.

Flail only: Tidal flood embankments between Dunball and Portishead and also between Dunball and Combwich.

Additional Watercourses that could be maintained by Internal Drainage Board using Somerset River Authority funding

Landcourse Rhyne, Lox Yeo, Rhynemoor Rhyne, Division Rhyne, Hartlake, Pan borough
Drain, Red lake, Whitelake, Baltonsborough Millstream, Coxbridge Brook, James Weir River, Cary (Somerton to Henley) Dunball Rhyne, Eighteen Feet Rhyne, KSD (u/s of Greylake), Misbrook Rhyne, Middlemoor Rhyne, Pool mead Rhyne, Decoy Rhyne, Othery Rhyne.