Who are we?
Nicolas Mayot
President of The Ocean Gardeners
President
Guidance and strategy.
Sarah Jane Lilley
Head Gardener
Secretary
Management and administration.
Richard James Lilley
Head Seascaper
Treasurer
Operations and community.
What are we restoring?
We are currently restoring seagrass meadows. Seagrass meadows are vital marine plants that are havens for biodiversity and support a diverse ocean ecosystem. There are four species of seagrass in Europe.
Below are the three species of seagrass we currently restore;
Zostera noltii
Dwarf eelgrass
Zostera marina
Eelgrass
Cymodocea nodosa
Little neptunegrass
Why do we want to restore?
There has never been a more urgent need to revive damaged ecosystems than now. Ecosystems support all life on Earth.
The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet – and its people. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in the ocean. It can help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent a mass extinction. It will only succeed if everyone plays a part.
Why seagrass?
There’s more to our ocean than seagrass, but it’s a good place to start. There are four species of seagrass in Europe all found in shallow, sheltered (i.e.g accessible) coastal spaces. Seagrass is one of the seven marine habitat types targeted by the 2024 EU Nature Restoration Regulation for restoration by 2050.
Seagrasses are important for biodiversity and for storing carbon, but ultimately they are important for people. So together let’s restore seagrass – one seed, one meadow, one garden at a time.
Where do we restore?
How and when can you get involved?
Our participatory marine restoration activities follow the best available science and run seasonally across two locations in France and usually run between May and September. Please drop us an email for more information on getting involved.
What does volunteering look like?
It’s not always sunny. It’s not always warm. But it is always rewarding! Here are some photos from the field taken over the last few seasons…
