WORK to bring back vital seagrass meadows that increase biodiversity and help tackle climate change has begun in East Lothian.

The Restoration Forth project, a partnership project working with communities around the Forth, confirmed that about 25,000 seeds had been successfully injected into the ground at the trial sites, including Tyninghame Beach.

Seagrass meadows absorb carbon and provide food and a safe habitat for marine life to flourish.

Tyninghame was selected alongside two sites in Fife – at Pettycur Bay and Drum Sands.

Naomi Arnold, Restoration Forth project manager, said: “As these trial sites have been carefully selected, we’re hopeful the seagrass seeds will take, start to germinate and that we can continue with further trials this year.

“Seagrass is the unsung hero of our oceans and can play a major part in tackling climate change, as well as improving water quality and enhancing biodiversity.

“The project wouldn’t be possible without the enthusiasm of our local volunteers and community hubs who have put in so much effort and hard work.”

The locations were selected due to being sheltered and, along with the discovery of remanent seagrass, it is hoped that they will provide suitable growing conditions.

Over the coming months, the sites will be monitored and, if the seeds take successfully, large-scale planting will go ahead in March next year, with the aim of restoring four hectares of seagrass in the Firth of Forth by 2024, the equivalent of 5.5 international football pitches.

Alongside the seagrass planting, native oysters will be deployed to create reefs, which once flourished in the Forth, that will remove pollutants and provide sanctuary for a vast array of marine life.

The three-year programme is funded by Aviva, the ScottishPower Foundation, the Moondance Foundation and the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, which is facilitated by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) and managed by NatureScot.

Melanie Hill, executive officer and trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “This is an exciting milestone in the project to restore seagrass and oysters in the Firth of Forth, and we’re delighted to be funding part of this crucial programme to help tackle the climate emergency and educate the local community on the importance of these habitats to the wider ecosystem and our future.

“With the ScottishPower Foundation celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Restoration Forth project is a shining example of how our funding is helping project partners to provide the blueprint for further marine restoration projects across the country.”