We are funding the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project because we swim in the sea off Sussex every week.

Kelp was once abundant in Sussex

In the late 1970s the kelp beds between Selsey and Shoreham-by-Sea were abundant, and teemed with life including important commercial species such as European Sea Bass, Black Sea Bream, European Lobster and Common Cuttlefish. But by the end of the century, 96% of the kelp had disappeared, along with the marine life it supported.

Among the factors that caused the kelp to disappear were the great storm of 1987 and intensive fishing activity in the area using heavy trawl nets (trawling) which, when dragged along the seafloor can destroy seabed habitats. ​

A ban on trawling has made a big difference but funding will help the project even more

We are Miranda (boss booby), Jo (bouncy booby), Julia (baby booby), Sarah (bovvered booby), Gemma.(bantz booby) and Cathy (bling booby) and none of us have done anything like this before and are frankly a bit petrified.... but ably coached.by Christine we've been training for over 6 months and are getting stronger by the day.