East Lothian’s MSP Paul McLennan joined nature project Restoration Forth for an organised seagrass planting event at Tyninghame Bay.

Restoration Forth is a conservation partnership between charities, community groups and scientists that aims to restore seagrass and oyster reef habitats in the Firth of Forth.

The project aims to work closely with local communities through volunteering activities, citizen science and marine awareness programmes to restore these habitats and champion habitat restoration in the aquatic environment to benefit communities along the Forth.

Mr McLennan took part in an organised seagrass planting event as part of the project.

Commenting following the event, Mr McLennan said: “This was my second time at a Restoration Forth seagrass event. Getting out to plant seagrass seeds at Tyninghame Bay was fantastic.

“The Firth of Forth was once a thriving marine ecosystem which supported a mosaic of native habitats and species.

“Centuries of transformative activities and large-scale industrialisation along its banks have shifted the environmental landscape.

“Seagrass habitats are immensely important in our fight against climate change as they are so good at capturing dissolved carbon. Unfortunately, Scotland has lost the vast seagrass meadows we once had. It is our responsibility to restore these incredible ecosystems.

“It is an honour to do my bit in making this happen, and I would encourage anyone who has considered volunteering for Project Seagrass to dig out their wellies and get stuck in!”