Natural defences should be used to stop flooding, the report says

The conservation charity WWF Scotland said that the move would be more effective and save taxpayers' cash.

It said natural flood management would mean letting wetlands and floodplains do what nature intended.

WWF officials said that demonstration projects on the River Devon in Clackmannanshire and Perth and Kinross have worked.

Some of the techniques involved included ditches being blocked with straw bales, forcing rainwater to remain upstream; restoration of wetlands and extensive river-bank tree planting.

We can now prove beyond all shadow of a doubt that natural flood management techniques are highly effective Mike Donaghy WWF Scotland

The charity contrasts the natural approach with man-made schemes, like that in Milnathort where �500,000 worth of brand new concrete flood defences failed.

'Cost effective'

Mike Donaghy, freshwater policy officer for WWF Scotland, said: "We can now prove beyond all shadow of a doubt that natural flood management techniques are highly effective at reducing flood risk to communities.

"It is a very cost effective way of reducing flood risk and brings many other benefits to the local community, landowners, and local authorities.

"We urge the Scottish Executive to put this approach into practice on all major rivers throughout Scotland and protect the Scottish communities at risk from flooding in a sustainable and cost-effective manner."