Herald - Issue 470

20th February 2025 • The HERALD • Page 29 GUTTERS CLEANED AND REPAIRED • FASCIAS • SOFFITS • GUTTERING • ROOF CLEANING • CONSERVATORIES • ROOFS • GUTTER REPAIRS PW Bathroom Installations Call 07778 345 124 Email: petewilliams21@hotmail.co.uk Design, Supply & Fit High Quality Bathrooms in Southampton and surrounding areas Over 20 years experience Fully Insured - Free Quotation For more pictures of our work visit: @pw_bathroom_installations PW Bathroom Installations DECORATING Interior and Exterior Established 1985 07867 528307 mark.blake.decorating@gmail.com v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v Floodplain Restoration Partnership Brings Vital Wildlife Habitat to Lower Test Valley change to better protect people and wildlife. The Environment Agency contributed £2.4m, including a long-term lease of the land and towards running costs for the project.” With the Trust overseeing a connected 310 hectares from the M27 to the River Test’s mouth, this project makes a major contribution to the charities’ goal of seeing 30% of land and sea protected for nature recovery by 2030. rough collaboration with the Environment Agency, the Trust is expanding a wildlife-rich corridor and demonstrating the value of investing in naturebased solutions. e Lower Test Valley is reaping the bene ts from newly restored habitats. In a project initiated and funded by the Environment Agency and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, the partnership is delighted to announce that 90 hectares of oodplain habitat have been restored at Manor House Farm in the Lower Test Valley, providing vital support for wildlife and the community. is unique site, located between the Trust’s Testwood Lakes and Lower Test Nature Reserves along the Solent coast, is transforming into a critical refuge for wading birds and overwintering wildfowl, while also increasing the site’s resilience to the impacts of sea-level rise. e Environment Agency identi ed the site as potentially enabling oodplain and coastal grazing to compensate for the natural loss of habitats over the next 100 years. Creating this environment will protect communities and wildlife across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Managed by the Trust since 2019 with funding from the Environment Agency, Manor House Farm now plays a key role as a natural oodplain. e site recently experienced its rst seasonal ooding as newly installed sluice gates were operated for the rst time directing water onto the oodplain which in turn created essential niches for overwintering waders, migratory wildfowl, southern damsel ies, and local sh species. “Manor House Farm demonstrates our commitment to creating and expanding sustainable, interconnected habitats across our two counties, enhancing resilience for both nature and people,” says John Durnell, Director of Nature-Based Solutions at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. “We are thrilled to see wildlife thriving here, as the floodplain offers new opportunities for species to adapt to environmental change.” is habitat restoration supports the Trust’s vision for a Wilder Hampshire - a resilient, thriving network of interconnected habitats that enhance biodiversity and foster climate adaptation across the region. Over time, as saline levels increase, the oodplain will transition naturally into a coastal grazing marsh, o ering a critical bu er against ooding and other climate impacts. Claire Francis, the Environment Agency’s oodrisk manager for the south coast said, “This project showcases the power of collaboration. By combining flood-risk management with habitat restoration, we’ve used our expertise to manage the effect of climate Manor House Farm and sluice gate ©StrongIsland The Bird Aware Solent Photography Competition Celebrate the natural beauty of the Solent coastline, its wildlife and its amazing coastal birds by entering this year’s Bird Aware Solent Photography Competition. ousands of migratory birds head to our shorelines for the winter so it’s the perfect time to look out for wildlife when you’re on the coastline. e closing date for the competition is Friday 28th February. ere are four categories: 1. Birds on the Solent coastline 2. Solent landscapes 3. Wildlife-aware coastal dogs 4. Junior Winning entrants in each category will get some great prizes and the chance of featuring in an exhibition of the pick of the crop in 2025. For details of how to enter visit: birdaware.org/solent/ photo-competition/ All joinery and carpentry requirements undertaken • Bespoke wooden windows, doors and staircases • PVCu windows and doors fitted • Decking, pergolas and out buildings • Custom made wardrobes and cupboards • Fencing and gates Contact us for advice and quotes Tel 023 8066 8021• Mobile 07467 594993 fillisjoinery@outlook.com Professional quality joinery for over 25 years

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