Boreholes to be drilled in Holbeach Fen and Long Sutton as part of project to assess climate change impact

Research from a project to look at the impact of saltwater seeping into our groundwater supply will be sent to the Government to highlight the importance of crop security.

Lincolnshire County Council and the University of Lincoln are working together on a project to better understand that groundswater system in the fens and the encroachment by seawater.

Over the next few years, they will be monitoring the levels of underwater acquifers in South Holland and also the seeping of saltwater – along with working out the cost of producing our food.

This research, which builds on a previous project undertaken by the University, will then be shared with the Government.

Vicky Jones, also a programme co-ordinator for the project, said: “In the Lincolnshire Fens, the groundwater in the aquifer has historically been at a steady level, which kept the nearby sea water at bay. However, with climate change, the groundwater is drying up and the salt water is encroaching into the gaps left behind, getting into the soil, and affecting the food supply.

“This investigation is hopefully the start of a wider understanding of the effects of salinisation on crops in the Fens, and the economic impact that will have for all of us as consumers.

“We know significant things are happening from previous research and we want to build on that and how much that is going to cost moving forward. We will take it to national government to see what they are going to do to help protect crops here.”

The investigation is part of Project Groundwater, a new £200million government-funded initiative to look at flooding and drainage issues across greater Lincolnshire.

Project Groundwater is funded by Defra as part of the £200m Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programmes will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.

Dr Daniel Magnone, who has a background in agricultural productivity and water sustainability, and Dr Iain Gould, who has undertaken research in resilience of agricultural soils, from the University of Lincoln will be overseeing the research.

Knowledge of the groundwater systems in the Fenlands is very limited, and understanding them is key to helping to protect the land in this area from excess salt

Under the project, boreholes will be drilled into farmland in the Holbeach Fen and Long Sutton area. A device will be placed within the borehole to monitor the changes.

They will use modelling software to understand how salt water might infiltrate the soil and impact food production in the future.

Vicky said: “We are working with the University of Lincoln. They have previously done soil samples in that area in a different project. “We have a wealth of data in terms of soil and salt coming from the sea. We have five to six companies on board.”

The project will be looking at the Fens, moving from Lincolnshire into Cambridgeshire, but may also expand into the Wolds and Skegness areas.

Brett said that it was important to make an economic appraisal to find out the impact on both farmers and customers.

He also added that it was important to look at yields produced by farmers and if they have changed from previous years.

Brett said: “We are doing it for crop security because we are a small island with a big population which still has to be fed.

“Extreme weather is going to get worse. Part of the project is to understand what is happening with the aqcuifers and its affect.

“We are trying to understand what is happening and hopefully put a nature based solution in place.”