Beneath the waters of the Humber Estuary, an important restoration story is taking root. At Spurn Point National Nature Reserve, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Humber project is working to bring seagrass meadows back to life, helping restore a habitat that once covered much larger areas of our coastline. 

Since 2021, the project has made significant progress, with almost 60 acres of seagrass habitat restored through a combination of seed-based restoration and transplanting. As the UK’s largest seagrass restoration project by restored area, Wilder Humber is demonstrating how ambitious, long-term restoration can help nature recover at a seascape scale.

Why is seagrass so important?

Seagrass meadows are much more than underwater plants. They create vital habitats for marine wildlife, provide food and shelter for a variety of species, and offer important benefits for the wider environment. 

From small invertebrates to fish, seagrass meadows support a rich diversity of life. Their underwater leaves provide places for animals to feed, hide and grow, helping to support healthy marine ecosystems. 

Seagrass also plays a valuable role in tackling climate change. Like other coastal habitats, it absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows and stores carbon in its plant material and the sediments beneath it. This stored carbon, often called blue carbon, makes seagrass an important part of our natural climate solution. 

Its benefits extend to our coastline, too. Seagrass roots and underground stems, called rhizomes, help bind sediment together, while the leaves slow water movement. This can help stabilise the seabed and contribute to reducing coastal erosion and the impacts of wave action. 

However, in a little over a century the seagrass meadow at Spurn Point has reduced in area by over 98%, from covering 1186 hectares in 1900 to only 17 acresin 2021, more than double the national average of 44% decline.  

Contaminated water has driven this extraordinary loss, with heavy metal pollution coming from nearby industries physically stunting plant growth and runoff from agriculture clouding the estuary water, which blocks sunlight from reaching the submerged seagrass. Restoring these meadows is an important step towards healthier seas and more resilient coastlines.

Growing a meadow, one seed at a time 

Restoring seagrass is a long-term commitment, requiring careful planning, hands-on work and ongoing monitoring. 

Between 2021 and 2026, the Wilder Humber team collected over 255,000 seagrass seeds from the remaining 17 acres hectares of original healthy seagrass meadow, providing the foundation for restoration across the Humber.  

Alongside seed planting, the team has been transplanting seagrass to help establish new areas of meadow. Since transplanting began in 2024, 1,481 transplants have been planted, including an impressive 1,256 during just 14 days of fieldwork in 2026. 

By combining these approaches, the team is learning more about how best to restore seagrass in the Humber estuary. These valuable insights are also being shared with seagrass restoration projects across the UK, helping to build knowledge and support wider efforts to bring this important habitat back to life.  

Looking ahead 

The progress at Spurn Point is an encouraging step towards restoring the Humber’s natural environment. But seagrass restoration takes time, and establishing thriving, resilient meadows will require continued effort and monitoring. 

Wilder Humber aims to restore the entire extent of the diminished seagrass meadow, totalling over 1186 acres. By expanding seagrass habitat, Wilder Humber aims to create more opportunities for wildlife, increase natural carbon storage and strengthen the resilience of our coastal environment. Every seed collected and every transplant planted contributes to a bigger vision: a healthier Humber Estuary, where seagrass meadows and other vital coastal habitats can flourish together. 

Through Wilder Humber, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and its partners are working to give these remarkable habitats a future, benefiting wildlife, people and the wider environment for generations to come. 

Discover more about Wilder Humber and our work to restore seagrass, reintroduce native oyster reefs, and enrich saltmarsh and sand dunes at wilderhumber.org.uk.