Natural Environment Group Meetings
The Natural Environment Group (NEG) meets biannually in spring and autumn. The Solent Forum hosts and prepares the meeting papers. This is a closed meeting for NEG members only.
Meeting on 15 October 2026
Agenda (in preparation)
Meeting on 29 April 2026
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When is a wading bird not a wading bird? The case of the European Starling
-
Measuring pharmaceuticals in fish and cephalopods in the Solent
Meeting on 19 November 2025
- Agenda
- Managers Update
- Solent Seascape Project Data Portal – Louise McCallum, Blue Marine Foundation
- Protection of Sanderlings at Ryde – Daneen Cowling and Ian Boyd, The Common Space
Meeting on 23 April 2025
- Core business update
- When is a wading bird not a wading bird? The case of the European Starling – Prof Gordon Watson, University of Portsmouth
- ‘Portunus’ - Exploring and recording the underwater habitats of Langstone and Chichester Harbours - Alison Mayor, Southsea Sub Aqua Club
- Water Quality Computer Modelling in The Solent - Dr Tom Scanlon, MTS-CFD Limited
Meeting on 20 November 2024
- Meeting Notes
- Paper 1 SEMS Actions for NEG
- Paper 3 Update on NEG Funded Projects for 2024/5
Presentations
- Noise Disturbance – Baseline Noise Level Monitoring in the Solent - Najwa Adnan-Smith (Tetra Tech)
- Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics in the Mudflat Sediments of the Medina Estuary, Isle of Wight - Liberty Turrell, University of Manchester
- LIFE ReMEDIES Overview - Caitlin Napleton, Natural England
- LIFE ReMEDIES Recreational Surveys - Tim Ferrero, Hants and Wight Wildlife Trust
Meeting on 24 April 2024
Presentations:
- Intertidal Seagrass Restoration in the Solent - Fathom Ecology
- Osborne Bay Voluntary No Anchor Zone - Natural England
- Mapping of Seafloor Debris in Intertidal of Solent Maritime SAC – APEM Ltd
- Blue Marine Foundation Seagrass Policy Report - Blue Marine Foundation
Chat Links:
- Watersports with Wildlife - Bird Aware Solent
- Info on recreational fisheries - Solentems - Fishing (incl. shellfisheries)
- Coastal imagery on the coastal monitoring programme - National Coastal Monitoring - Map Viewer & Data Catalogue
- D-Day action on Lepe Beach immortalised in 3D | Wessex Archaeology
- https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Seagrass-policy-report.pdf
Meeting on 1 November 2023
- Meeting Notes
- It’s the water quality stupid! Id risks to support successful restoration in the Solent – Gordon Watson, University of Portsmouth
- NE marine natural capital ecosystem assessment - James McClelland, Natural England
- Solent Biosecurity Planning
- Life on the Edge Capital Works for Seabirds - Wez Smith, RSPB
Meeting on 26 April 2023
- Notes of the Meeting
- Agenda
- Paper 1: Update on SEMS actions attributed to NEG
- Paper 2: Bird Aware Solent five year review
-
Passive saltmarsh restoration trial, Bursledon (You Tube video)
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Watersports with Wildlife: Reducing Disturbance to Coastal Birds, Bird Aware Solent
Meeting on 2 November 2022
- Agenda
- Paper 1: SEMS Actions for NEG 2022-23 progress updates for Nov 22
- Paper 2: Microplastics discussion paper
- Presentation: Lymington trials and new techniques for restoring saltmarsh using beneficial use of dredgings, Colin Scott, ABPmer
- Meeting Notes
Meeting on 27 April 2022
- Agenda
- Paper 1 Update on SEMS actions for NEG
- Paper 2 Finance - on request
- NEG Project Bursary Update
- Chichester Harbour Paddlesport Survey
- Tackling the microplastic pollution – testing a new bio-composite material as artificial filtration device, in Chichester Harbour
- RaNTrans - Rapid reduction of Nutrients in Transitional waters
- England Coast Path Update - Solent stretches
Meeting on 17 November 2021
- Agenda
- SEMS Actions for NEG
- Solent Bird Sensitivity Mapping
- Paper 3 Finance (on request)
-
Minutes of Meeting
- Presentation by Dr Gordon Watson, University of Portsmouth on Bait Collection and Hand Gathering.
- University of Portsmouth - Deimos Space UK Sediment Disturbance Project
- A Historical Investigation of Solent Saltmarsh as Key Coastal Nursery Habitat Areas - Dominic Parry, University of Portsmouth


