What Extreme Weather Is Teaching Councils This Winter — and Why Biodiversity Matters More Than Ever

How Extreme Weather Is Forcing Councils to Rethink Green Space

This winter has been a reminder that climate change isn’t just a future risk — it’s already shaping the day-to-day reality of council services.

Repeated heavy rainfall, saturated ground, flooding alerts and storm damage have tested highways, housing, parks and estates teams across the country. What’s becoming increasingly clear is that traditional grey infrastructure alone can’t cope with these pressures.

For councils, one of the biggest lessons from this winter is that biodiversity, planting and land management are no longer optional extras. They are critical tools for resilience.

1. Extreme weather is exposing the limits of hard infrastructure

Gullies, drains and culverts are under more strain than they were ever designed for. When intense rainfall hits compacted soils, sealed surfaces and simplified landscapes, water has nowhere to go.

This winter has shown that:

• Surface water flooding is often the primary issue

• Drainage systems fail fastest where surrounding land can’t absorb water

• Repeated reactive repairs are costly and disruptive

  
  

Well-designed planting, hedgerows, verges, woodland edges and green corridors help slow water, stabilise soil and reduce run-off. Nature doesn’t replace engineering — it supports it.

Councils that have invested in greener estates and highways land are often seeing fewer repeat failures than those relying solely on hard interventions.

2. Planting for resilience, not just aesthetics

Tree and hedge planting is sometimes still viewed as a visual or symbolic climate action. This winter has reinforced that how and where planting happens matters far more than headline numbers.

Poorly planned planting can fail under extreme weather — while the right planting can actively reduce risk.

Resilient planting strategies focus on:

• Species suited to wetter winters and drier summers

• Deep-rooting trees and shrubs to stabilise soil

• Hedgerows and scrub that intercept rainfall and slow water flow

• Planting designs that work with existing drainage, not against it

  
  

Biodiversity-led planting delivers multiple benefits at once: flood mitigation, habitat creation, carbon storage and improved public spaces. That combination is increasingly important for councils working with limited budgets.

3. Winter highlights the value of “unloved” green spaces

Verges, embankments, highway margins, cemeteries and buffer strips are often overlooked — yet this winter has shown how important these spaces can be.

When managed for biodiversity rather than neatness, these areas can:

• Absorb significant volumes of water

• Reduce erosion and soil loss

• Support pollinators and wildlife year-round

• Act as low-cost climate resilience assets

  
  

Councils working with partners like Green Council Services are increasingly recognising that small changes in land management across many sites can have a large cumulative impact.

4. Biodiversity supports adaptation as much as mitigation

Climate conversations often focus on reducing emissions. This winter has underlined why adaptation needs equal attention — and why biodiversity plays a central role.

Natural systems are flexible. They evolve, recover and respond in ways hard infrastructure can’t. Planting schemes, woodland creation and habitat restoration help councils adapt to impacts already locked in, including:

• More intense rainfall

• Longer wet periods

• Increased storm frequency

  
  

Investing in biodiversity is not just about protecting wildlife — it’s about protecting roads, homes, services and communities.

5. Poor land management choices are amplifying weather impacts

Where councils are experiencing repeated flooding or land failure, the causes often go beyond rainfall alone. Contributing factors include:

• Loss of hedgerows and trees

• Compacted soils from over-management

• Over-mown grassland with little structure

• Development without green buffers

This winter is reinforcing the importance of land management decisions made years — even decades — earlier. Reintroducing structure and diversity into landscapes is one of the most effective ways councils can reduce future risk.

The Takeaway

Extreme weather is becoming a defining challenge for local government. This winter has shown that biodiversity, planting and land management are not just environmental initiatives — they are practical, cost-effective responses to real pressures.

Councils that invest in nature-based solutions now will be better equipped to:

• Manage flood risk

• Protect infrastructure

• Support wildlife recovery

• Create healthier, more resilient places

  
  

In a changing climate, planting isn’t decoration — it’s defence.

Let’s grow better, together.

The Green Council Team

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