Landscapes for Life Conference 2015

Landscapes for Life Conference 2017 Wednesday 19th July 2017

Do Different Briefing – Building a Living Landscape in the Itchen Valley

This is an off site “walk and talk” briefing led by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has a long term vision to create a Living Landscape to reverse biodiversity declines and deliver wider benefits for the public. Our approach has changed and adapted over time and we now consider our work to deliver “natural and social capital” benefits such as flood management, community cohesion, sense of place, health benefits etc. as well as a fantastic wildlife resource. Come and see how we have used funding from HLF, the Environment Agency, Natural England, local authorities, other partners and Wildlife Trust members to create a fantastic living landscape for people and wildlife right in the heart of Winchester. This visit will provide an insight into one of the Itchen Valley’s foremost floodplain restoration schemes. This scheme overcame significant technical, logistical, political and social obstacles to implement an innovative programme of restoration and management that demonstrates how the cultural vista and wildlife objectives can be achieved on a multifunctional urban nature reserve. Delegates will see how ambitious techniques have been adopted to integrate river and floodplain, while reinstating a more traditional, extensive grazing regime. The reserve hosts the world famous Abbotts Barton Fishery and now demonstrates how fishery management can go hand in hand with conservation objectives of the river and wider floodplain. Being the true western gateway of the South Downs National Park and boasting some of the finest floodplain meadows in Hampshire, this visit will help to contextualize the increasing pressures within the surrounding catchment (e.g. water abstraction & pollution, urban development & recreation), while also presenting the opportunities offered by wildlife rich sites, such as through ecosystem services & the wider social economic and wellbeing benefits.

Who will deliver the briefing Martin de Retuerto Organisation Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Email [email protected] Telephone 07584 166671