Five million seagrass seeds are being planted in an area the size of 18 football pitches to improve water quality and provide spawning and feeding grounds for marine species.

Seagrass is a wonder plant which provides incredible benefits for people, nature and climate.

Ricardo Zanre, Ocean Restoration Programme Manager at WWF

The seagrass meadows will filter pollution and help to combat the climate crisis by trapping carbon and providing protection from coastal erosion.

Ricardo Zanre, Ocean Restoration Programme Manager at WWF explains: “Seagrass is a wonder plant which provides incredible benefits for people, nature and climate. Sadly, it has all but disappeared from Welsh waters, so we are delighted to receive this funding which will help us restore vital seagrass meadow to the north Wales coastline.”

Working in partnership

Seagrass Ocean Rescue is managed by WWF in partnership with Project Seagrass, Swansea University, North Wales Wildlife Trust and Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau SAC.

The seagrass restoration project is also being designed and delivered with local communities in North West Wales.

The need to tackle and reverse the effects of the climate crisis has never been greater...

Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales

Loss of seagrass meadows

The UK has lost up to 92% of its seagrass habitats over the last 100 years.

And according to research, there remains only an estimated 4582 hectares of seagrass habitat along the Welsh coast and most of it is in a "perilous state".

Funding important nature projects is a priority

Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said: "The need to tackle and reverse the effects of the climate crisis has never been greater and funding important nature projects such as this is a key priority for the Heritage Fund in Wales.

“This important seagrass restoration project in North Wales will help revitalise and restore seagrass meadows in North Wales and train local residents in marine conservation skills so that they can get actively involved in combatting the climate emergency.”

Funding for your heritage project

We’re committed to tackling the climate crisis. Find out more about our work to support nature’s recovery across the UK.

If you've got an idea for heritage project in Wales, get in touch to find out how we can support you.