Seeding Change Together: Seagrass Restoration in Cornwall 

In 2022, we embarked on a three-year partnership project with Cornwall Wildlife Trust - Seeding Change Together - to restore carbon-capturing seagrass along Cornwall's coastline. We pledged £150,000 to support exciting research into innovative methods of restoration trials at the Fal-Ruan nature reserve, with the goal of replenishing and expanding seagrass coverage across Cornwall. 

Seagrass plays a crucial role in combating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from seawater, storing carbon in its roots and leaves, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. 

Despite covering just 1% of the seafloor, seagrass is responsible for around 15% of the ocean's total carbon capture. However, seagrass beds have faced significant decline globally, with the UK witnessing a loss of 92% of its seagrass over the last century.

The planting trials at the Fal-Ruan reserve mark a significant step towards seagrass restoration in Cornwall. With support from Seasalt volunteers, Cornwall Wildlife Trust have collected and planted around 4,000 seeds from healthy seagrass meadows. These seeds were planted using innovative methods on the mudflats at the reserve. 

The project sits alongside our aim to be Carbon Net Zero by 2040.

Reducing our impact on the environment has been key to Seasalt since the beginning. We’re transitioning to become a Carbon Net Zero business by 2040 in line with British Retail Consortium’s Climate Action Roadmap. But partnerships like this one allow us to support local charities and organisations in our shared aim to benefit the environment and target climate issues on a wider scale. 

Sophie Pipe, Seagrass Project Officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, is optimistic about the initial success of the planting trials. The project has facilitated the deployment of testing equipment to monitor water quality, contributing valuable insights into seagrass ecosystem health.  

Seagrass restoration efforts are crucial not only for carbon sequestration but also for providing habitats for marine life, improving water quality, and protecting coastlines from erosion.

As we approach the third year of the trials, Cornwall Wildlife Trust are trailing new planting methods whilst exploring new sites for seagrass restoration. This will be the first step in trialing seagrass re-establishment in estuaries where dwarf seagrass has not been found since the 1980s.  

We hope that re-establishing these wonder plants in Cornish estuaries will support carbon storage and nature recovery, providing vital habitat for an abundance of wildlife, providing shelter and nursery grounds for key marine species and diverse feeding grounds for wading and migratory birds.