Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on Nature Recovery in the Solent

Engagement with local communities and stakeholders is a vital part of the process for successful nature recovery. During 2024, the responsible authorities undertook a series of workshops on a wide range of themes with key stakeholders, landowners, and community groups. One of these was a Solent workshop which was held on 16 January 2024 to cover coast and marine. This workshop took place prior to the Defra clarification in May 2024 that LNRS’ should not include marine.  Since this clarification, the RAs will only be able to consider the coastal outputs of the workshop; the marine elements will still be hosted on this page for use in future planning.

The Solent Forum retains the ambition to promote Solent recovery for marine in addition to coast ensuring the proper linking of marine with coastal margins and estuaries. 

This workshop was coordinated and delivered by the Solent Forum in association with Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Natural England, Environment Agency and the Solent Seascape project.

The purpose of the workshop was to:

• Inform stakeholders of the LNRS process and how responsible authorities and the Solent Seascape Project will work together to deliver nature recovery for coast and marine.
• Gather stakeholder perspectives on existing pressures and ongoing restoration initiatives/projects to identify local priorities and understand opportunities to improve nature.
• Prepare a report to inform the LNRS'.

We will now be working with the Responsible Authorities to take these findings forward for preparing the first draft LNRS’, Solent stakeholders will be consulted on these in due course.

---

Workshop Outputs

Workshop Report

Workshop Presentations:

• Introduction to LNRS - Peter Barham, Solent Forum Chair
• Overview of Baseline Habitats and Species - Nicky Court, Manager HCC Specialist Environmental Services and the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre
• Solent Marine Condition - Jess Taylor, Marine Senior Adviser, Natural England
• Solent Seascape Recovery Plan - Louise MacCallum, Blue Marine
• An Isle of Wight Perspective - Ian Boyd representing Isle of Wight Council

---

Workshop Materials

Workshop Agenda

Workshop Materials to Facilitate Discussion

• Defra flowchart on contents of LNRS
• Solent Habitat and Species list
• Table of existing known Solent habitat mapping
• Table of initiatives and projects in the Solent that can assist with nature recovery

Sample Solent maps:

• Solent marine designations
• Solent marine and coastal habitats (zip file). Habitat Mapping Legend.
• MMO habitat creation maps (zip file) Map key.
• Isle of Wight Solent shoreline projects
• Please use Defra's MAGIC map to look at more specific locations or obtain greater detail.

---

---

Home

---