Company marks volunteers week with coastal conservation effort on Thorney Island
A group of employees from Havant company Lockheed Martin recently got together to support Volunteers’ Week, joining Chichester Harbour Conservancy for a beach clean on Thorney Island. Their activity forms part of a wider company commitment to give back to its local communities and protect the environment.
Working alongside Conservancy Rangers, the volunteer team removed marine debris from a stretch of coastline that is rarely accessible to the public, helping to safeguard one of the South Coast’s most important and biodiverse natural habitats.
Located in the heart of Chichester Harbour, Thorney Island supports a rich mix of habitats, including salt marsh, grazing land, mudflats and reedbeds. These environments are vital for wildlife, including marsh harriers and nesting seabirds such as avocets and terns. The team’s efforts contribute directly to preserving these fragile ecosystems and maintaining the natural beauty of the harbour.
Finn, a Lockheed Martin UK Systems Engineer, attended the event and explains: “Volunteering is a simple way to support our local community and environment. Even small actions, like a beach clean, can make a real difference - helping to protect our coastline and bring people together to create a positive impact.”
Commenting on the Volunteers’ Week activities, Joanna Wood, Group Managing Director at Lockheed Martin UK in Havant said: “Volunteering Week is a fantastic opportunity for our people to give something back to the local community and locality we all work and live in, stepping away from their daily role and contribute to other causes that matter,” said. “We’re incredibly proud to support the Chichester Harbour Conservancy - not only through hands-on volunteering like this, but through our broader partnership with them that helps protect this unique environment for future generations.”
Through that broader partnership Lockheed Martin also supports the Chichester Harbour Champions education programme, an initiative which enabled more than 580 Hampshire schoolchildren to visit Chichester Harbour in 2025-6 and learn about its unique biodiversity. These experiences play a vital role in building environmental awareness and inspiring young people to become future advocates for conservation.
“Our partnership with Lockheed Martin continues to have a meaningful impact,” says Matt Briers, Chief Executive of Chichester Harbour Conservancy. “From practical conservation support during Volunteers’ Week to helping us inspire the 9,000 people who visit our education centre annually, their contribution strengthens both our environmental work and our connection to the community.”
For Lockheed Martin employees, the beach clean also offered a rare opportunity to experience a quieter, less-visited part of the harbour, reinforcing the importance of protecting these special places.