Solent Forum Members Meetings

The Forum will next meet on 15 October 2026 in Southampton. Members if you would like to present please contact the Forum Office.

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Spring 2026 Meeting - 11 March 2026

Presentations from the Spring 2026 meeting:

1. Solent Forum Update – Kate Ansell, Solent Forum Manager
2. Breeding Seabirds in the Western Solent - Pete Durnell, Hampshire County Council
3. Solent Seascape Project update – Louise MacCallum, Solent Project Manager, Blue Marine Foundation
4. Nature for Health – Mandy Preece, Senior Officer, Connecting People with Nature, Natural England
5. Solent Freeport – Carla Modley, Business Growth & Investment Manager, Solent Freeport

• BuDS Disposal Sites – Ryan Alexander, Specialist Advisor, Cefas

Hot Topics:

• Relocation and Restoration of the Mulberry Harbour Whale - Megan Mardle, ABP
• Helical Screw Anchor versus Clump - Andy Hunt, VSEL
• The Solent Protection Society - Bob Comlay, Solent Protection Society

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Autumn 2025 Meeting - 15 October 2025

Presentations:

1. Solent Forum Update and Members Survey Results – Kate Ansell, Solent Forum Manager
2. Solent Gateway - Richard Parkinson, Port Director of Solent Gateway
3. Using Water Recycling to tackle the challenge of Water Scarcity - Sam Underwood, Southern Water
4. The Work of UKSA – Cat Dixon, CEO UKSA
5. Boat user perceptions and behaviours in the Solent - Emily Stroud, Hants and Wight Wildlife Trust

• SMMI green/blue space research - Sien Van Der Plank, University of Southampton
• Artecology update - Nigel George, Artecology/The Common Space
• Coastal Nature Recovery on the Isle of Wight: Progress on LNRS delivery - Daneen Cowling, The Common Space
• HMNB Portsmouth maintenance dredging – potential for re-use? – Jackie Lavender, Haskoning

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Spring 2025 Meeting - 13 March 2025

Download the Agenda.

Meeting Presentations

• Solent Forum Update - Kate Ansell, Solent Forum
• Metals in the Solent - Prof Gordon Watson, University of Portsmouth
• Technology development at NOC and work in the Itchen and other local rivers - Dr Allison Schaap, Associate Head of the Ocean Technology and Engineering Group
• An update on SPA condition assessment using Chichester and Langstone Harbours SPA as a case study - Jess Taylor and Connor Reid, Natural England
• Highlights of Southern Water’s environmental delivery programmes in the Solent area for AMP 8 (2025-2030) – Joff Edevane, Environment and Water Quality Lead, Southern Water
• Aquaculture development in Langstone Harbour - Meg Roberts, Langstone Harbour Board
   

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Autumn 2024 Meeting - 16 October 2024

Meeting Presentations

• SF Business Plan survey results - Karen McHugh, Solent Forum
• ABP Removal Progamme of Abandoned Boats - Pippa Moody, ABP Southampton
• Assessing the Impact of Marine Debris on the Spread of Invasive Non-Native Species in The Solent - Luke Perry, University of Plymouth
• Competitive Angling as a Scientific Tool (CAST) project findings - Christina Hunt, University of Portsmouth
• Environmental risks of car tyre leachate pollutants - Henry Obanya, University of Portsmouth
• HMNB Portsmouth maintenance dredging – potential for re-use?- Jackie Lavender, RHDV
• Saltmarsh restoration on the River Hamble - Luke Helmer, Blue Marine Foundation
• Seagrass cafe and boat user survey - Emily Stroud, Hants and Wight Wildlife Trust
• 'Shore Gathering Management in MPAs- Emily Condie, Southern IFCA
• Recreational Activity Surveys from ReMEDIES -Tim Ferrero, Hants and Wight Wildlife Trust

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Spring 2024 Meeting - 13 March 2024

Meeting Presentations

• Solent Forum Update and Introduction to Business Planning - Kate Ansell, Solent Forum
• Work of the UK Sailing Academy - Julia Hutchinson, UKSA 
• Hurst Spit to Lymington Strategy - Rhian Edwards, Environment Agency
• Sea the Value - Andrew VanDerSchatte Olivier, University of Portsmouth
• a.) Developing a Solent Marine and Coast LNRS - Kate Ansell, Solent Forum
• b.) Developing a Solent Marine and Coast LNRS - Ian Boyd, Artecology (lead for IoW LNRS)
• Competitive Angling as a Scientific Tool - Dr Christina Hunt, University of Portsmouth

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