New Forest - Sustainable Wetland Restoration in the New Forest

The project aimed to address the holistic hydrological issues through the creation of a Water Basin Management Forum, made up of key statutory agencies and stakeholder groups and to deliver an integrated and strategic approach, supported by local interest groups and communities, to the management of the water basins in Southern England’s 'New' Forest’. The project main achievements are as follows: A Water Basin Management Forum was established between the project partners, all of which are significant conservation organisations. Additionally 604 ha of woodland wetland habitat have been restored to recovering conditions. River restoration work has been carried out on 10km of the Black Water and Highland Water rivers. The project has carried out a range of useful surveys within the SAC. Baseline surveys were undertaken and a subsequent survey by Southampton University has monitored physical features of the Black water and Highland Water Rivers. The project has also surveyed macro-invertebrates, Highland Water Rivers, fisheries and wading birds. A thorough dissemination programme was carried out that produced high quality materials, including a dedicated project website and a DVD.