FIVE MORE SEAGRASS RESTORATION PROJECTS AROUND THE UK

1

ESSEX COAST. Here, the local Wildlife Trust is training citizen scientists to record recreational activities around the coastline to discover which ones negatively impact seagrass meadows, including those off Two Tree Island nature reserve in the Thames, at St Lawrence on the Blackwater and off Wrabness nature reserve on the Stour

(essexwt.org.uk).

2

PLYMOUTH SOUND.

The city’s National Marine Aquarium runs a seagrass laboratory cultivating up to 25,000 plants a year which are transplanted into the Sound to restore four hectares of lost meadows in collaboration with the Marine Conservation Society. Aquarium visitors can catch a glimpse of the lab and learn more about seagrass

(national-aquarium.co.uk).

3

THE SOLENT AND SURROUNDS. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s project combines active restoration underwater with public engagement on land. A new mural by artist ATM showcases the beauty of seagrass with its resident spiny seahorse on the wall of the island’s Mermaid Gin distillery (hiwwt.org.uk).

4

WEST WALES. The WWF, Cardiff University, Sky Ocean Rescue, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and Swansea University are all working together to restore seagrass within a two hectare area in West Wales as a pilot model for wider restoration elsewhere

(projectseagrass.org).

5

SPURN POINT, YORKSHIRE. More than 30,000 seagrass seeds have already been carefully collected and hessian sacks containing seeds have been planted over 3.5 acres of mud flats. Long-term goals are to restore 80 acres (ywt.org.uk).