Stronger Shores

31/07/2026

As it is , we thought we might let you know that Professor Shore is making a comeback at Between the Tides Festival August 22nd and 23rd at Kirkleatham Museum & Grounds. Many thanks to Stronger Shores and Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.

Lovely pic of Professor Shore and some local sea life creatures, in his puppet booth, to be painted at one of our Whippet Up sessions

31/07/2026

🌿 National Marine Week: Kelp Spotlight

Did you know that kelp is one of the fastest-growing organisms on Earth?

Kelp habitats are often known as the rainforests of the sea because they provide food and shelter for a wide variety of marine life. Healthy kelp habitats help support biodiversity and productive marine ecosystems.

This , we're sharing some fascinating facts about the habitats featured throughout the Stronger Shores project. Take a look at our infographics to learn more about kelp and why these underwater habitats are so important. 🌊

The Stronger Shores project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and managed by the Environment Agency as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes.

29/07/2026

🌱 Seagrass Spotlight

This National Marine Week, we're celebrating seagrass, one of our incredible marine habitats.

Did you know seagrass is often described as an underwater meadow?

These important habitats provide homes for marine wildlife and are helping us learn more about the role nature-based solutions can play in supporting resilient coastlines.

Take a look through our infographics to discover more about seagrass and why it matters.



The Stronger Shores project is funded by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)and managed by the Environment Agency as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes.

27/07/2026

🌊 National Marine Week: Why Marine Habitats Matter

National Marine Week is a chance to celebrate the species and habitats that make our seas so special.

From seagrass meadows and native oyster reefs and kelp forests, marine habitats support wildlife, contribute to healthy ecosystems and help shape our coastline.

Over the coming week, we'll be shining a spotlight on some of the habitats studied through the Stronger Shores project, sharing what we've learned about their importance and the role they can play in supporting healthy, resilient coastlines.

Follow along as we explore the science behind our shores and the habitats that help make them stronger.



The Stronger Shores project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, which is managed by the Environment Agency.

20/07/2026

🌊 Join us at the Wild Oysters Community Fun Day! 🦪

We're excited to be supporting the Wild Oysters Project at this FREE family event in Roker on Saturday 15th August. Groundwork NE & Cumbria ZSL

Come and visit the Stronger Shores team and:

🎮 Try Seabed Secrets, our virtual reality experience where you can dive beneath the waves and explore the seabed without getting your feet wet!
🧩 Take on our Giant Jenga challenge
🌊 Find out more about how coastal projects are helping protect and enhance our shoreline

There's plenty more to enjoy too, including marine science experiments, arts and crafts, face painting, live music, hands-on activities with oysters and sea creatures, and much more!

📅 Saturday 15 August
⏰ 12:00pm to 3:00pm
📍 Adventure Sunderland, Marine Walk, Roker
🎟️ Book your free ticket here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-oysters-community-fun-day-tickets-1992409866545?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tag a friend who'd love to discover what lives beneath the waves! 🌊🦀🦪



The Stronger Shores project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, which is managed by the Environment Agency.

Free event with family activities, interactive stalls, and coastal discovery celebrating oysters and ocean life

09/07/2026

Stronger Shores will be Bents Park for the parade on Saturday 11th in the big tent!

Please drop by to have a go at some of our super fun games including Seabed Secrets - which is a super immersive augmented reality game that takes you below the waves to explore our incredible habitats in more detail - Seagrass Meadows, Oyster Reefs, and Kelp Forests🌊

We will also be having a little competition with our Seagrass Bag Toss (maybe you could win some prizes🤐🤫) - hope to see you there!

The Stronger Shores project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, which is managed by the Environment Agency.

After the Summer Parade arrives at the seafront on Saturday, the celebrations continue in Bents Park with a packed programme of free family entertainment.

Enjoy spectacular outdoor performances, storytelling, sustainability activities, live cooking demonstrations and walkabout characters bringing plenty of fun and surprises throughout the afternoon.

Look out for Birdcage Stage, Carousel, Big Dog Buddy, Giant Seagulls, Swan in Love, Shed of Stories and much more!

You'll also find face painting, crafts, bubbles, food and drink stalls, performances from local dance groups and free rides on the Bents Park Land Train.

Find out more: https://visitsouthtyneside.co.uk/article/30118/This-is-South-Tyneside-Summer-Parade

19/06/2026

Wonderful to hear such incredible feedback and to see so many people connecting with the marine environment through this project!

Thank you to everyone involved☺️

The Stronger Shores project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, which is managed by the Environment Agency.

🌊 🌊 Seeing Blue: Making Waves in Sunderland! 🌊
We are absolutely thrilled to share the incredible success of our Seeing Blue project! Over the last year, the International Community Organisation of Sunderland (ICOS) has been working hard to connect local women and children with our beautiful marine and coastal environments—and the results have been purely magical. 🐚✨

Part of the Stronger Shores and Environment Agency initiatives, this project set out to blend environmental education with creative expression. Not only did we hit our goals, but we blew them out of the water!

📈 Project at a Glance:

• Community Impact: We engaged 43 women and 51 children from beautifully diverse backgrounds!
• Hands-on Learning: 12 educational workshops, including Hendon beach cleans, rock pooling, seaweed identification, and oyster cleaning at the marina with the Wild Oyster Project.
• Creative Expression: Turning learning into art with sea-glass crafts, sun catchers, and "Sea Memories in a Jar".
• Amazing Results: 85% of participants reported improved marine environmental awareness, and 78% enjoyed improved wellbeing!

💬 Real Stories, Real Impact

From learning how oysters naturally filter our water to exploring the historic Souter Lighthouse, the journey has been unforgettable. But don't just take our word for it—here is what our amazing community had to say:

"Fantastic activities which are good for you mentally and physically. Wonderful experience. Thank you ICOS Women."

— Kelly Alderson, 43

"I meet new people during the trips and activities. It was nice to connect with others and share experiences together... Everything was well organised and enjoyable."

— Barbara Mruk, 40

🤝 A Massive Thank You!

This project wouldn't have been possible without our 10 incredible volunteers (including our amazing ICOS Women Project Steering Group), our dedicated staff, and our brilliant partners like the National Trust, Durham Wildlife Trust, and the Wild Oyster Project.
Though this chapter of the project has finished, the legacy lives on. Our participants are already asking for more marine conservation, citizen science, and eco-crafts—so stay tuned for what’s next! 🌍💙

Blue

Thank you to Stronger Shores South Tyneside Council for their funding and support!

08/06/2026

🌊 Happy World Ocean Day! 🌊

This year’s theme is all about reimagining our relationship with the ocean and recognising how much we all depend on healthy seas. 💙

Our interactive Stronger Shores StoryMap explores how kelp, seagrass and oyster habitats could help protect our coastline, support marine wildlife and improve the resilience of our shores along the North East coast.

It also looks back at some of the fantastic community projects delivered through Stronger Shores, including Shoresearch surveys, the North Side Arts Project, Whippet Up’s Captain Kelp puppet show and poetry inspired by our coastline and marine habitats.

This World Ocean Day is a chance to celebrate our seas and recognise that everyone can help protect the coast and marine life for future generations. 🌊

Take a look here 👇
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7da0c07ee3d245c9b273c6538bf0e1db

The Stronger Shores project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, which is managed by the Environment Agency.



South Tyneside Council Durham Wildlife Trust Tees Valley Wildlife Trust ZSL Groundwork NE & Cumbria The Tees Rivers Trust Newcastle University University of Plymouth

Do we really ALL need stronger shores? YES! Here's why...

08/06/2026

🌊 Today is World Oceans Day 🌊

This year’s theme, “Sustainable Fishing Means More,” reminds us that protecting our seas today means healthier oceans, stronger ecosystems and thriving coastal communities for generations to come.

Along the North East coast, native oyster reefs once flourished before decades of overfishing, habitat loss and pollution caused their numbers to collapse. Today, through the Wild Oyster Project, Groundwork North East & Cumbria and our partners are working to reverse that decline by restoring oysters to our coastline.

These remarkable creatures do far more than you might think. A single oyster can filter up to 200 litres of water every day, helping to improve water quality and clarity. As oyster reefs grow, they create vital habitats and nursery grounds for fish, crabs and other marine species, boosting biodiversity and helping our seas become more resilient.

By restoring native oysters, we’re not only bringing back a lost species, we’re helping to rebuild healthier marine ecosystems and demonstrating how bringing nature based solutions to our oceans can deliver lasting benefits for both nature and people.

If you would like to help us deliver work like this then please donate today! Every donation small or large goes towards creating a brighter future. Donate today at: https://checkout.justgiving.com/z2v86ftrc3

If you would like to adopt one of our Oysters, visit our website: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/north-east-and-cumbria/get-involved/wild-oyster/adopt-an-oyster/
You will receive a crochet oyster and an adoption certificate!

ZSL Stronger Shores

03/06/2026

🌊 Stronger Shores Conference 2026 – delivery partner presentation session

It was fantastic to hear from our delivery partners and Fellshore (our toolkit partner) about the progress being made across Stronger Shores.

From oyster reefs and seagrass restoration to kelp trials, monitoring, and community engagement, the session showcased the breadth of work happening across the programme.
Some key takeaways:

🌱 Nature-based solutions can deliver real benefits for our coastlines
🔬 We’re moving from research into real-world delivery
🤝 Collaboration and shared learning are essential
💬 And importantly - People are as important as Projects

It was especially inspiring to see how technical work is being combined with creative and community-led approaches to build lasting understanding, trust and impact.

👏 A huge thank you to all our partners for sharing their insights and continuing to drive this work forward. Durham Wildlife Trust Groundwork NE & Cumbria ZSL Newcastle University University of Plymouth The Tees Rivers Trust South Tyneside Council

The Stronger Shores project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, which is managed by the Environment Agency.