Mor Nature
Cornwall’s first seascape scale project, restoring seagrass and native oyster populations within the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation.
Recognising the interconnectedness of species, the Mor Nature project will restore more than one habitat, to support the wider marine ecosystem and communities that depend on them. Located in the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation, this seascape scale project is the UK’s largest subtidal seagrass restoration project.
Launching in summer 2026, the three-year initiative aims to restore 10 hectares of subtidal seagrass, alongside intertidal seagrass and native oyster populations. To achieve this, the Ocean Conservation Trust is leading the subtidal restoration work, while the Cornwall Wildlife Trust leads the intertidal seagrass and native oyster recovery. This holistic approach combines restoration with protection, monitoring research, and community engagement and stewardship.
Why restore these habitats?
- Habitat loss: Seagrass is one of the most valuable and biodiverse habitats on the planet, but the UK has lost at least 44% of its seagrass since 1936. Meanwhile, native oyster reefs, one of nature’s most effective ecosystem engineers, have declined by 95%, making it one of the UK’s most threatened marine habitats.
- Continued pressures: Physical damage, habitat loss, human activity, poor water quality, disease and environmental change make it hard for these habitats to recover by themselves.
- Ecosystem Recovery: Restoring seagrass meadows and native oyster reefs rebuilds marine life, supports coastal communities, and improves water quality.
- Community engagement: Mor Nature is about people as much as it is about habitats. By collaborating with local communities and valuing their knowledge, the initiative fosters a shared sense of ownership and stewardship. Residents and visitors can connect with the marine environment through Mor Nature’s citizen science, volunteering, snorkel surveys, and community events. Ultimately, by including people to protect seagrass and native oyster habitats, Mor Nature ensures a healthier, thriving seascape that benefits generations to come.
Methods
We are using a combination of established restoration techniques and innovative technology, allowing us to explore what is possible when marine restoration is taken to a much larger scale. Find out more about our restoration methods here.
Find out more about how we monitor our restoration sites to ensure our conservation work is impactful here.
Get involved
Over the next three years, there will be lots of opportunities for people to discover more about the seascape, get hands-on with restoration and become part of Mor Nature.
Find out how you can get involved here, follow us on social media (@oceanconservationtrust), or join our Blue Meadows Seagrass Community Facebook group for information about talks, snorkel surveys, community art days, celebration events, volunteering and activity days, and more!
Sign up to the Blue Meadows Bulletin and get all the latest seagrass news straight to your inbox!
Mor Nature is made possible thanks to £1.8 million in funding from DEFRA’s Species Recovery Fund and supporting funders.
Project Partners
Collaborators
