Local Nature Recovery Strategies: A Focus on the Solent

What are Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS)?

Responsible Authorities have been appointed by Defra to develop Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS); this includes Hampshire County Council (responsible for Hampshire including Southampton and Portsmouth) and the Isle of Wight Council.

Introduced by the Environment Act 2021, LNRS’ are a new system of plans for nature recovery covering the whole of England. They are a key mechanism for planning and delivering the National Nature Recovery Network and will consist of:

A map of the most valuable areas for wildlife.
Opportunities to improve nature in the future.
Local priorities.

The first LNRS’ will be produced in 2024. They will intially focus on land (including the intertidal) however the responsible authorities wish to include the whole Solent to ensure that marine nature recovery is embedded into the strategies. It is anticipated that the Solent work will also feed into neighbouring LNRS’ including Dorset and Sussex. The intention in the Solent is also to cover those terrestrial habitats in the 'coastal zone of influence' such as saline lagoons, coastal grazing marsh and wader roosting and feeding sites.

Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on Nature Recovery in the Solent (16 Jan 2024)

Engagement with local communities and stakeholders is a vital part of the process for successful nature recovery. The responsible authorities will be undertaking 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 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

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.

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The Solent Seascape Project is key to developing successful long term nature recovery in the Solent

The Solent Seascape Project is a partnership aiming to reconnect the Solent into a functioning and productive ecosystem for people, nature, and climate. It will bring together local stakeholders to develop and co-create a long-term seascape recovery plan that supports better management of existing Solent marine and coastal habitats. This piece of work will take place over the next few years. It will form an integral part of nature recovery strategies for the Solent in the longer term, contributing to local priorities and delivering opportunities to improve nature.

The Solent Forum