- December 2, 2024
In 2024, Project Seagrass launched a new Fragment Walk initiative on the Isle of Wight to support community-based seagrass restoration as part of our work in the Solent.
Seagrass Fragments
Seagrass meadows are sensitive habitats which can be easily uprooted. As a result of storms or other disturbances, fragments of seagrass (individual seagrass plants with the rhizome or reproductive root and node system still intact) can become dislodged, uprooted, and washed up onto beaches.
However, there is still an opportunity, for these plants to thrive by replanting the dislodged fragments.
This presents a unique opportunity to involve the local community in seagrass planting at our Isle of Wight restoration sites.
Seagrass meadows are critical and beautiful marine habitats that are essential for people and our planet. By undertaking active seagrass restoration on the Isle of Wight we can ensure that threatened and diminishing seagrass species can thrive, and additional fragment planting alongside our restoration efforts through advocacy and local community involvement presents an additional opportunity and involvement for all and reconnection to the seascape.
Project Seagrass Fragment Walks
In spring 2024, we delivered a Fragment Walk pilot project where members of the public joined us to collect seagrass fragments at Priory Bay. This enabled us to gauge the level of interest for volunteer opportunities of this nature amongst the local Isle of Wight community.
We were pleased to see positive uptake and interest in the initiative and went on to expand the project to include the following:
- A fragment collection point at St Helens
- A fragment walk to collect seagrass fragments
- A fragment preparation workshop
- Fragment planting at our restoration sites
- Monitoring our planted seagrass
During the fragment preparation workshop, volunteers attach fragments to a pin using natural twine. This provides an anchor point for when the fragments are replanted, increasing the chances of re-establishment.
During 2024 we have undertaken a total of 6 fragment walks, with 214 volunteers attending.
We have also started to plant fragments in our restoration area at Priory Bay, Isle of Wight, with a total number of 329 fragments planted. Our fragment collection point is located at St Helens Duver (What3Words: invest.cropping.scatter).
I attended a seagrass fragment walk at St Helens on the Isle of Wight with Becky. It was such a positive experience to find out about the successful work of Project Seagrass and everything they are doing around our shores to protect and restore this critical and fragile habitat. Becky was super knowledgeable and presented the information in a way that non-scientists could easily understand. Then we went on an easy stroll along the tide line, looking for any fragments that still had roots. These were deposited into the fragment bins for replanting later. It was really great to chat to the other folk who had come along to the walk, and make connections with islanders who care about their marine environment.
For me, being involved with Project Seagrass has been inspirational. Seeing and learning about this world renowned species in our local sea and playing a small part in it’s restoration has given me both hope and joy. I am so looking forward to continuing our journey towards it’s restoration
Fragment Collection Points
In addition to our direct engagement through the Fragment Walks we have additionally installed two Fragment Collection Points in Sandown and St Helen’s.
These collection points enable members of the public to collect and place seagrass fragments found on the beach into the fragment collection points, which can then be retrieved and replanted in local seagrass meadows and restoration sites.
Project Seagrass in the Solent
Project Seagrass is working to restore 3 hectares of seagrass on the Isle of Wight as part of the Solent Seascape Project alongside undertaking planting trials as part of the Seagrass Ocean Rescue: Solent programme.
Fragment Walks enable us to engage with members of the local community and trial another approach to seagrass restoration on the Island.
If you would like to set up and run your own fragment walks around the Solent or further afield we will be releasing this as a marine practitioner protocol in 2025.
Keep an eye on our social media for the dates of future Fragment Walks or contact volunteers@projectseagrass.org to be kept informed about future opportunities.
