Thanks to the extraordinary support of local residents, with nearly 1,000 individuals rallying behind an urgent appeal, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has secured a vital wildlife haven in the heart of the New Forest.

The newly acquired 28 acres Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), in the Lymington Valley, expands the rust’s existing Lymington Reedbeds Nature Reserve. It is also a critical link in the Trust’s ambitious Forest
to Foreshore vision, which aims to create a continuous corridor of protected landscapes from Roydon Woods Nature Reserve to the Lymington and Keyhaven coast.

In addition to the extraordinary support from local individuals, the initiative was also backed by a £50,000 donation from Southern Co-op, long-time partners of the Trust.

The Trust’s ambitious Forest to Foreshore vision is at the forefront of safeguarding vulnerable species, protecting vital ecosystems, and tackling pressing challenges such as climate change and habitat fragmentation, by restoring nature, ensuring greater connectivity for wildlife and safeguarding biodiversity for future generations.
www.hiwwt.org.uk