Natural England has launched a project to help seabirds in the Solent.

The Solent Seascape Project saw its first success with a shingle-topped raft that attracted common terns to breed for the first time in over two decades at the North Solent National Nature Reserve (NNR).

The project, which is planned to run for five years, aims to create nesting sites for four types of terns – common, sandwich, little, and roseate – along with other seabirds.

These new habitats are expected to benefit both breeding seabirds in the warmer months and wading birds that visit in the winter.

Jessica Taylor, marine and coastal senior officer at Natural England, said: "This project represents a significant step in our efforts to support the recovery of seabird populations in the Solent.

"By creating these protected nesting sites, we're addressing the decline in suitable natural shingle habitats caused by factors such as sea level rise and increasing tidal surges."

The North Solent NNR, known for its bird diversity, now has new shingle islands situated behind a sea wall in an area with restricted access. These islands are meant to protect the birds from the dangers of rising sea levels and human interference.

Louise MacCallum, Solent project manager at Blue Marine Foundation, said: "It is so exciting to see these new islands take shape at North Solent NNR after so many months of planning.

"They will form a crucial part of the network of restored seabird sites we are creating as part of the Solent Seascape Project across the entire Solent region."

The Solent Seascape Project is not only supported by Natural England but also by East Head Impact and the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme. The initiative is managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and funded by Arcadia.

The main objective of the project is to restore four at-risk marine habitats in the Solent area by 2027.

Natural England plans to keep a close watch on how these new habitats are used and may create more nesting islands if the initial ones prove successful.

People interested in learning more about the Solent Seascape Project can visit solentseascape.org