Seagrass restoration can be challenging, especially when you are using ‘wash up’ shoots – seagrass plants which are naturally uprooted by winter storms. These can’t be replanted straight away and they need to be taken care of over the winter. This project developed nursery ponds for the wash ups and will have a significant positive impact on Wester Ross Fisheries Trust’s Seagrass Meadows Scotland Project (funded using SSEN Distribution donations to SMEEF ) as they will enable them to house up to 6 times more seagrass than previously.
The improved pump and filtration systems will also ensure plants are kept healthier resulting in a higher survival rate. The ability to control environmental factors as a result of the nursery ponds now being indoors will also contribute to an increased survival. The funding has also provided improved working conditions for staff. The new ponds meant the Trust was able to apply for further SMEEF funding to extend our restoration target area from 0.5 hectares to 1.5 hectares.
In 2025 SMEEF was able to provide a grant of £21,972 to support this work using resources from the Nature Restoration Fund. This is a great example of where public and private funds have been blended to support nature restoration in Scotland.