Seagrass is often described as the sea's equivalent of a woodland
More than 430 seagrass shoots have been discovered in the Fowey Estuary, giving conservationists hope that one of the UK's most important marine habitats can be brought back to Cornwall's waters.
The new growth was recorded across 50 patches of seabed during summer surveys carried out by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
The findings come despite fears the restoration trial might not succeed when only six seedlings had emerged by the end of April.
Chloe James, of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said the shoots were "hugely encouraging" after an "uncertain start to the spring".
Volunteers collected seagrass seeds from a donor meadow in Torpoint in autumn 2025 before planting them in the estuary. The seeds remained buried through the winter before beginning to grow in spring.
Volunteers have been collecting and planting thousands of seeds
"The new growth is a powerful reminder of why restoration work takes time, persistence and a willingness to keep learning," said James.
The project is part of Seeding Change Together, a partnership between Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Seasalt Cornwall that began in 2022.
Earlier work involved some of the trust's first attempts to restore seagrass meadows in Cornwall's estuaries, with volunteers collecting and planting thousands of seeds while researchers tested different restoration methods.
More seeds are due to be planted in the Fowey Estuary and Helford Estuary
Seagrass, which may not look remarkable, is often described as the sea's equivalent of a woodland, said the trust.
It provides shelter and nursery grounds for fish and other marine life, helps improve water quality, locks away carbon and reduces coastal erosion.
The trust said mainland Britain had lost up to 92% of its seagrass meadows over the last century. Previous research highlighted by the project found seagrass could capture carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.
The restoration effort has not been without setbacks. In the Helford Estuary, algal growth appeared to wipe out planted seedlings at one site, although three plants were later found to have survived and had started spreading.
More seeds are due to be planted in the Fowey Estuary and Helford Estuary, with further monitoring planned for spring 2027.
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