Solent Seascape Project

The Solent is a crucial habitat for seabirds and waterfowl, offering vital breeding and wintering grounds. Its mud and sand flats support seagrass and saltmarsh, while its seabed was once home to Europe's most significant native oyster fishery. Beyond ecological importance, the Solent provides enjoyment, jobs, and inspiration to many, defining our regional identity. However, these habitats like so many others globally, have become fragmented and degraded through anthropomorphic pressures including poor water quality, increased industrialisation and disturbance.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, alongside nine other influential organisations, aim to restore seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, saltmarsh and seabird nesting habitat across the region. This effort includes working with landowners and regulators to improve the protection and management of existing Solent habitats, to monitor the benefits of seascape scale restoration scientifically and to ensure that local people and sea-users co-design the project, thereby becoming more connected and engaged with their own marine environment.

Join us in protecting marine habitats, engaging communities, and making a positive impact on our environment.

Immerse yourself in our marine champion training videos, delving deeper into various habitats and learning how to become a steward for our marine environment.