Strategy News and Updates

In June the Team were lucky to hear from 60 Year 8 students at Noadswood Secondary School. After receiving an overview of the strategy and exploring different habitats, understanding the flood risk, and discussing different stakeholders involved. Students were asked questions including, what would their top two priorities for the area be and what are their hopes and aspirations for the future of the coastline?

The students gave us really good feedback on the session and several responses included;

“Protect the coast and teach young people how to do the same"

"Make sure habitats and homes are kept safe"

"Stop climate change and sea level rising"

“To find a sustainable solution in order to save natural habitats”

The end of May saw 35 representatives from a range of local groups and organisations attend one of two focus groups to explore the four Leading Option for Hurst Spit. In summer 2023 the Team exhibited Leading Options for the Strategy, which included three options for Hurst Spit, however following further input from stakeholders a fourth option was suggested for consideration. The focus groups were an opportunity to inform those in attendance about the possibilities around the future management of the Spit and hear their views and aspirations.

The Environment Agency maintain and operate various structures along the coast and rivers. In Keyhaven alone there are around 70 different structures which vary from sea walls, embankments, various size outfalls and several flood gates.

The Asset Performance team who undertake this work have been busy in recent months replacing two of the structures in the area. The first was to replace an old wooden flap valve with a new marine grade plastic one to help reduce saltwater going into Kingfisher Pond. Secondly, the flood gate by the Keyhaven Sailing Club was replaced due to corrosion.

Over the next 18 months there are also plans to replace two further outfalls to improve the seals when closed and patch and point where required along the stone wall.

A much larger piece of work to replace the Avon Water outfall gates is also in progress. We will provide further updates as work progresses.

Lymington Town Sailing Club opened their doors to members and the general public on Tuesday 7th May, to hear first hand from Rhian Edwards, Strategy Lead about the strategy's progress and next steps.

Representatives from the Hurst Spit to Lymington Strategy team met with ten young people to explore the complex Strategy and Hurst Spit on Saturday 2^nd March.

The young people, aged between 11-16years are part of the New Forest National Park Association (NFNPA), Junior Rangers Scheme. They explored a range of subjects including;

• Overview of the Environment Agency
• Climate Change Pledges
• The Strategy coastline, different habitats and importance of them
• Use of different coastal defences

This was then followed by a visit to Hurst Spit in the afternoon to review and assess what was discussed that morning by observing the various sea defences, wave action and impact on the Spit and beach shingle.

The evening of Friday 2nd February saw an unprecedented attendance at the Lymington Society’s first meeting of the year, the event was hugely oversubscribed and some had to be turned away. The main attraction for the event was Rhian Edwards, the Strategy Lead who updated those present on the Strategy and developments to date, followed by opportunities for questions. No doubt Rhian will be called back at a later date due to popular demand.

A new map-based digital tool has been launched to make plans for coastal management easier to access, understand and use by coastal practitioners and the public alike.

Shoreline Management Plan Explorer will assist with better understanding the risks of coastal flooding and erosion, alongside the management approaches and actions being taken along the coast.

New content will regularly be added to the tool to keep it up to date, starting with the improved National Coastal Erosion Risk Map later this year.

Yesterday saw members of Hurst Spit to Lymington Strategy Team join forces with New Forest District Council hold a joint exhibition for their district, town, parish councillors and staff to raise awareness of the Strategy’s Leading Options and neighbouring Christchurch Bay and Harbour FCERM Strategy.

Over 40 councillors and staff attended the Council's headquarters in Lyndhurst asking a range of questions about the strategies.

If you would like to know more please contact hurstspit2lymington@envinronment-agency.gov.uk or visit recently updated website www.hurstspit2lymington.co.uk

Following the public engagement at various venues in and around Lymington and Milford on Sea, we also took the Strategy’s Leading Option exhibition boards to the New Forest Show.

Environment Agency staff from across the organisation spoke to over 750 people across the 3 days. Along with information on the Strategy, agriculture, flood resilience and recruitment were among the topics covered. Visitors were attracted to the stand by the JBA Trust’s wave tank, the climate change pledge tree and the dirty water tank.