Hundreds Of ‘Seagrass Tubes’ Planted To Kick-Off Multi-Million Pound Restoration Of Thames

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Thousands of seagrass shoots have been planted in the Thames, as conservation charity ZSL kicks off work to transform one of the world's most famous waterways.  

Over the course of one week, ZSL’s conservationists collected nearly 1,000 cylindrical ‘seagrass cores’ – tubes of mud extracted from the Thames, each one containing multiple individual dwarf eelgrass shoots – from a seagrass meadow in Essex, before carefully planting each one in mudflats in Kent – as part of their work to make the estuary more resilient to climate change.

One of the largest UK restoration efforts using this method, ZSL’s work is the first step in restoring a thriving seagrass meadow, with the ambition that it will grow to cover an area the size of at least 1.5 football pitches over the next few years.

The work launches the start of on-the-ground work for Transforming the Thames - an ambitious ZSL-led project bringing together 20 partners to turn the tide on the health of the Greater Thames Estuary and deliver wide reaching benefits to the British wildlife and the 8 million people that live along the Estuary.

The five-year project brings together conservationists, local communities, government bodies and landowners, building on decades of experience to recover a rich, varied coastal landscape by 2030.

In doing so, Transforming the Thames will help improve access to nature, protect local communities against the impacts of climate change and support the species that call the Thames home – from Critically Endangered European eels and sharks to beloved seahorses and lapwings.

Thea Cox, ZSL’s Transforming the Thames Senior Restoration Manager said:

“Seagrass meadows are critical to the health of the Thames, and we’re thrilled to be kicking off our work transforming this iconic estuary by getting stuck in on the mudflats."

 “We rely on healthy ecosystems for our own wellbeing, but decades of degradation and fragmentation have left the Greater Thames Estuary with a poor bill of health – and increased storm events and marine heatwaves due to climate change threaten the health of the estuary further. We know that it can recover, and are excited to see the Thames flourish as we work to restore habitats along its shores, make its coastlines more resilient to climate-change driven storms, and connect people with everything it has to offer.”  

Seagrass meadows play a vital role in the marine environment, providing essential nursery grounds for fish, food for birds, and habitat for various invertebrate species. Seagrass in the UK has declined up to 44% of seagrass since 1936 due to decreased water quality, disturbance and pollution – threatening wildlife and putting people at greater risk of flooding and coastal erosion.  

Areas of healthy seagrass meadows can still be found along the Thames, and the seagrass was collected during low-tide from existing meadows near Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, ready to be planted in Egypt Bay, Kent.  

The team of conservationists and volunteers used specially designed wooden mudshoes to navigate the challenging mudflats, helping prevent them from sinking into the mud as they worked. As the work could only take place during low-tide, a hovercraft was also used to transport the team and their equipment over the mudflat so they could collect or plant as many seagrass plants as possible before the sites were submerged in water.

Thea added:

“This year marks ZSL’s 200th anniversary, a year where we celebrate all we’ve achieved so far and look ahead to a future where people and wildlife thrive together. As we work to restore these coastal meadows, we’re not only marking the start of a new exciting chapter for the Greater Thames Estuary – we’re also making that future a reality.” 

 To rebuild a healthy, resilient ecosystem, the seagrass planting will be followed by further work by the Transforming the Thames partnership to restore around 450 football pitches worth of six vital habitats across the Greater Thames Estuary - native oyster beds, seagrass meadows, saltmarshes, coastal grazing marsh, saline lagoons, and sand and shingle bird nesting habitat.  

Working towards a 100-year vision of recovery across the estuary, the partnership are also working to tackle the biggest threats destroying existing habitats – such as pollution - and working with local communities and businesses alike to empower them to be a part of scaling up transformation across the region.     

ZSL believes nature can recover, and that conservation is most effective when driven by science. We call for science to guide all global decisions on environment and biodiversity and build a healthier future for wildlife, people and the planet. Find out more and support ZSL’s world-leading, collaborative science and conservation work visit here.  

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Aug 7, 2025
3 min read

Two Asian elephants have travelled across the country, in a move to boost the conservation breeding programme for the endangered species.

The big move, which took months of planning and involved keepers, vets, two lorries, a crane able to carry 100 tons, and a team of animal transport experts, marks a critical step in efforts to protect the endangered species.

26-year-old Karishma and her nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth, or Beth as she is known by keepers, moved from Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to their new home at Chester Zoo in Cheshire on Wednesday 9 July, and have been settling into their new surroundings before meeting the rest of the herd.

The pair were transported in custom-built travel crates, weighing ten tons each, specially designed to keep them comfortable for the duration of their road trip - including being fitted with air conditioning and CCTV cameras for drivers to check on their precious passengers during the four-hour journey.

The two lorries, driven by animal transport experts, travelled in convoy down the motorway with Whipsnade Zoo’s elephant team leader Mark Howes and lead elephant keeper Emily Hanley in tow, to ensure the elephants saw a familiar face once they reached their destination.

Stefan Groeneveld, section manager for elephants at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “It was a bittersweet day for all of the elephant keepers here when we said farewell to two of our elephants, Beth and Karishma.”

“Karishma arrived at Whipsnade Zoo just over 20 years ago, and she and her daughter Beth, named after HM Queen Elizabeth II, have been much-loved members of our herd.”

“It’s always sad to say goodbye to animals we work so closely with, but we’re excited that they’ll be starting a new chapter in a new place, with the opportunity to keep growing the herd there as part of the conservation breeding programme for their sadly endangered species.”

Elephant keepers at Whipsnade Zoo have been preparing Beth and Karishma for their move for months, including getting them used to their travel crates - which were placed in their paddock in February to allow the mother-daughter duo time to investigate them and get used to them.

“We did daily training sessions with Beth and Karishma, where they were rewarded for voluntarily walking into the crates, which ensured they were really comfortable with them for their journey to Chester Zoo,” explained Stefan.

“We also packed their favourite snacks for the road trip, including fresh hay and water.”

Additionally, in preparation for their journey, Beth and Karishma received a health check from the conservation zoo’s vet team to confirm they were fit and healthy for the move. Stefan said:

“Collaboration between zoos as part of conservation breeding programmes is integral to keeping a strong and healthy insurance population for animals at risk of extinction in the wild. Considered by conservationists to be one of the most persecuted species in the world, elephant conservation in zoos is particularly critical, as the wild population of Asian elephants is dwindling due to habitat loss, degradation, and poaching for their ivory tusks.”

“Our remaining herd of five elephants, including male Ming Jung, females Kaylee, Lucha, and Donna, and calf Nang Phaya, who is almost three, will continue to contribute to the breeding programme here at Whipsnade Zoo.”

To learn more about the conservation work ZSL, the international charity behind Whipsnade Zoo, does, as well as the other conservation breeding programmes the Zoo is involved in, sign up for ZSL’s conservation newsletter: Conservation Newsletter signup | ZSL

Photo: Mother-daughter duo Karishma and Beth left for Chester Zoo (c) Whipsnade Zoo

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Hundreds Of ‘Seagrass Tubes’ Planted To Kick-Off Multi-Million Pound Restoration Of Thames

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