• Nature Conservation Group
• Recreation group
• Current focus
• Research group
• Water quality group

Recreation Subgroup

The inaugural meeting of the Solent Forum Recreation Subgroup will take place on 30 October, 2007 in Southampton. Please contact the Solent Forum Office for more details.

In recent years, the formation of a recreation sub-group has been proposed by a number of Solent Forum members and the Solent Forum Steering Group has agreed to its initiation.

Thanks to monies from the Environment Agency, the Solent Forum hosted an event in October 2006 to bring together coastal recreation stakeholders to share their views on recreational issues, management difficulties and research needs and to prioritise action that needs to be taken. The event was well-attended with 32 delegates from a mix of sectors and identified issues were grouped into 6 themes relating to:

1. Management and Access;
   
2. Social Inclusion;
   
3. Types of Recreation;
   
4. Education & Information;
   
5. Carrying Capacity; and
   
6. Research.
   

Project proposals were then drafted under each theme and prioritised by attendees. Feedback from the event found that a working group mechanism was favoured to take forward these and other actions.

It is thought that a strategic subgroup if established would best suit coastal recreation, for example angling, bait-digging, kite-boarding, sailing, swimming etc as this is where there is limited coordination. Although, it will link with other groups and fora who focus on land-based recreation in the area.