Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has committed £800,000 to Project Seagrass to accelerate marine habitat recovery, with initial planting across three hectares in the Solent and around the Isle of Wight. The investment forms part of a broader aim to restore 17 hectares of seagrass across central southern England and the north of Scotland, strengthening coastal ecosystems and supporting biodiversity.

The programme underlines SSEN's focus on nature-based solutions, pairing funding with hands-on action to revive vital underwater meadows. Over the summer, SSEN colleagues volunteered alongside Project Seagrass teams on the Isle of Wight, including at Yarmouth, gathering seeds from existing meadows. The seeds are being processed and stored at the Project Seagrass nursery ahead of planting next spring, improving seedling viability and helping restored meadows establish more effectively.

Shirley Robertson, Head of Strategic Planning and Sustainability at SSEN, said: "Sustainability is about taking practical action that delivers lasting benefits for people, places and the natural environment.

"By supporting Project Seagrass, and by giving our colleagues the opportunity to volunteer directly with restoration teams, SSEN is helping to protect and restore vital coastal habitats while deepening our own understanding of the ecosystems connected to the communities we serve."

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The partnership's progress was showcased at ReMeMaRe 2026 in Scarborough, the Restoring Meadow, Marsh and Reef conference. The event brought together restoration practitioners, government bodies, environmental organisations, industry and academia to share research, best practice and practical learning on recovering estuarine, coastal and marine habitats, including seagrass.

Anouska Mendzil, Senior Science Officer and Restoration Lead for the Solent and Isle of Wight, added: "Restoring seagrass habitat at scale requires significant collaboration. This partnership brings together funding, scientific expertise, industry partners as well as community engagement to help seagrass recovery in the Solent.

"By investing in nature recovery through seagrass restoration, we're helping to provide lasting benefits for coastal communities, marine wildlife and climate change."

Seagrass meadows are among the UK's most important yet threatened marine habitats. They provide shelter and food for wildlife, serve as nursery grounds for many species, help improve water quality and can reduce wave energy to support coastal protection.

They are also powerful carbon stores, locking carbon within their leaves, roots and surrounding sediments. Protecting and restoring seagrass supports biodiversity and climate resilience and helps coastal communities adapt to increasing risks from storms, flooding and erosion.

For SSEN, participation in projects like this aligns with delivering responsible, sustainable infrastructure. As the distribution network operator for central southern England and the north of Scotland, SSEN views nature recovery, employee volunteering and knowledge-sharing with partners as key to building more resilient places.

By combining funding, practical volunteering and participation in knowledge-exchange forums such as ReMeMaRe, SSEN and Project Seagrass aim to speed up on-the-ground environmental action and foster the collaboration needed to restore coastal habitats at scale.