Cornwall Wildlife Trust | A Seagrass Update

In a small corner of Cornwall’s coastline, a quiet transformation is taking place. For the first time in over 40 years, native intertidal seagrass has successfully regrown in the Helford River, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Seasalt and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. 

This ground-breaking project aims to restore seagrass meadows – one of the ocean’s most vital but vulnerable ecosystems. Now in its fourth year, our flagship partnership is about more than restoration: it’s a call to action for organisations everywhere to step up for biodiversity and climate. 
 
Over the past four years, Seasalt Cornwall has funded the project which has enabled the trialling of several different methods of replanting intertidal seagrass on the Fal-Ruan and Helford estuaries.  

Seagrass meadows are less known than coral reefs and rainforests, but they play a big role in our planet’s health. Despite covering just 1% of the ocean floor, they store an estimated 15% of the ocean’s total carbon, more per square metre than tropical forests. 
 
They also provide vital habitats for marine species, serve as nursery grounds for fish, and offer feeding grounds for migratory birds, while helping to stabilise shorelines against erosion. Yet the UK has lost around 92% of its seagrass beds over the last century due to pollution, climate change, and coastal development.

Last autumn, the project team collected native seagrass seeds from the Tamar Estuary and planted them at a newly identified site on the Helford River – a place where seagrass had disappeared decades ago. This spring, those seeds sprouted. This Spring, those seeds sprouted and seagrass started to grown again.

However, a sudden seaweed bloom smothered the new growth – likely driven by warmer water and high levels of nutrients. While disappointing, the setback has yielded valuable insights.  

This project isn’t just about restoring a single location; it’s about developing a comprehensive long-term plan to revitalise this critical coastal habitat using new technologies, local knowledge and bold ambition to protect the planet we all depend on. From aerial surveys and water testing to seed trials and planting, every stage of the project brings us closer to scalable solutions that could inspire similar restoration work elsewhere in the UK and beyond. 

The team is already scouting new estuarine sites across Cornwall that could support future seagrass regeneration. 

Together, we planted 3,000 seeds in 2024 and stored an additional 3,000 seeds, ready for planting in the spring. By the end of 2025, we’ll have donated £150,000 to support this pioneering work at the Fal-Ruan Nature Reserve. We’ve also contributed 35 volunteer days through Seasalt teams and local communities. 
 
Our partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust also reflects a deeper truth about our business: we believe fashion can – and must – be a force for good. Sustainability is woven into every aspect of our business, from the way we design and source our clothing to how we treat our people and the planet. In 2024, we became a certified B Corp — and partnerships like this one are a vital part of how we live up to that commitment.