The Trust is filled with pride as we reflect on the success of the Seeing is Believing 2024 CEO Conference, hosted here in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight last month. It was an honour to welcome leaders from all Wildlife Trusts across the UK as well as Liz Bonnin, Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, providing them with a first hand look at the innovative conservation work being done in our region.

Day 1: Exploring Marine Conservation in Portsmouth

The four-day conference began with a deep dive into our marine conservation efforts at the University of Portsmouth, Institute of Marine Sciences. Dr. Alex Ford from the University of Portsmouth kick started the presentations off with his research on the pressures of marine pollution and climate change in the Solent. This was followed by Louise McCallum from Blue Marine Foundation who spoke about the Solent Seascape Restoration Project, an ambitious five-year, multi-million-pound project working to restore multiple habitats across the Solent strait by Blue Marine Foundation, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, University of Portsmouth and seven other partners.

These talks were followed by presentations from Trust marine staff, Dr. Tim Ferrero and Emily Stroud, who highlighted our remarkable seagrass restoration efforts across the Solent. They discussed our initiatives to protect, restore, and monitor this crucial habitat, as well as our community engagement work in the area. Guests then toured the University’s marine laboratories, which play a vital role in our seagrass seed storage and seedling development trials.

We ended the day with a trip to Farlington Marshes Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve where guests observed the diverse wildlife that inhabits the site. We discussed the impacts of climate change and coastal squeeze on this internationally important reserve for wading and wildfowl birds.

Guests were captivated by the practical demonstrations of our strategies to restore marine and coastal habitats, setting a compelling tone for the days ahead.

Day 2: Rewilding and Regenerative Farming on the Isle of Wight

Day two took us across the Solent to the Isle of Wight, where we showcased our ambitious rewilding projects at Wilder Little Duxmore and Wilder Nunwell. Here, our CEO Debbie Tann MBE and Jamie Marsh, Director of Nature Recovery, Wilder Wight, Solent and Seas, introduced the themes of the day, emphasising the synergy between rewilding and regenerative agriculture and how these contribute to our nature recovery goals.  Wilder Little Duxmore and Wilder Nunwell provided guests with an example of how our terrestrial management is critical to the health of our water courses and coastal environment, and the intrinsic links between land and sea.

Hollie Fallick and Francesca Cooper from Nunwell Home Farm demonstrated how their regenerative farming practices are integrated with our rewilding initiatives, offering a powerful example of collaboration in tackling the biodiversity and climate crises whilst running a viable business.

The evening was equally enriching, featuring a thought-provoking talk by Steve Egerton-Read from Forestry England on the White-Tailed Eagle recovery project. Highlighting the efforts of the Trust and those of local partners underscored the collective commitment to nature recovery.

Day 3: Restoring River Valleys and Soil Health

The third day began with a walk along the Eastern Yar led by Jamie Marsh, Emma Hunt, Isle of Wight Reserves Officer and Nicola Wheeler, Beaver Recovery Project Officer where we discussed the poor state of the river and wetland habitats. The highlight was the discussion on the potential wild release of beavers into the catchment, bringing to life the pivotal role these remarkable creatures could play in mitigating flood and drought impacts, restoring landscape and river function, boosting biodiversity and benefiting people too.

Later, we heard from local pioneers like the Garlic Farm, Tapnell Farm, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The insights shared on regenerative farming, the circular economy, and business adaptation in a changing world were both inspiring and actionable. Niels Corfield ended the evening with a presentation on restoring soil health. This resonated deeply, reinforcing the foundational role of healthy soils in ecological restoration.

Day 4: Vision for a Connected Landscape

The final day saw us crossing the Solent waters once again but this time to the New Forest coast at Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. Our tour of a new natural capital project with John Durnell, Director of Nature Based Solutions and Martin de Retuerto, Director of Nature Recovery Hampshire, illustrated our vision for a more connected, thriving landscape from Forest to Foreshore. The discussions featured creating nature-based economic opportunities, highlighting how sustainable practices can also drive economic resilience.

This conference was not just an event; it was an important milestone in our journey towards greater collaboration and innovation in conservation – realising the ambitious vision we set out in our Wilder 2030 strategy. We were honoured to have this opportunity to showcase all the amazing work the Trust, with the help and support from members, supporters, partners and volunteers, is doing here in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight to put nature into recovery. It provided a platform for Wildlife Trust leaders to learn from each other, debate challenging topics, and explore new possibilities for scaling up nature recovery and rewilding efforts across the UK.

We are immensely proud of the positive feedback from our guests and the shared sense of purpose that emerged. The Seeing is Believing 2024 CEO Conference has reinforced our commitment to pioneering conservation strategies that can inspire and be replicated nationwide. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible for a wilder future.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making this conference an outstanding success.