Groundwork NE & Cumbria Puts 4,000 Crocheted Oysters Up For Adoption
Adopt a crocheted oyster and support Groundwork NE & Cumbria’s environmental efforts to restore wild oysters to UK waters. 4,000 crocheted oysters are being produced by volunteer craftspeople across the North East region and will be available for public adoption with a minimum £10 donation.
Funds raised will go towards Groundwork’s delivery of The Wild Oysters Project: Tyne and Wear, a five-year restoration and conservation project, currently funded by the Stronger Shores Partnership and led by South Tyneside Council with funding from DEFRA as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes (FCIP), managed by the Environment Agency. The programme will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.
As part of this innovative project, 4,000 European native oysters were released off the coast of Whitburn in September attached to 20 specialised oyster reef cubes.
In a UK-first, marine conservationists from ZSL & Groundwork North East and Cumbria deployed these textured concrete-like blocks, made from 6 tonnes of robust, seawater-resistant and carbon-neutral concrete alternative, known as Marine Crete®. Oysters were cleaned and scrubbed by teams of volunteers before being carefully attached to the oyster reef cubes which were engraved with ridges and textures to mimic natural marine surfaces.
The specially designed oyster reef cubes aim to help restore the oysters and revive their reefs in the North Sea. The project aims to bolster the health and resilience of the region through improving water quality, boosting biodiversity and supporting fish nursery habitats.
Native oyster reefs disappeared from the region over a century ago, and across the UK, habitat loss, over-harvesting, pollution and disease have led to a decline in native oyster numbers of over 95% since the 1800s.
The team are trialling the use of these cubes as ballasts to secure the native oysters to the seabed and help shield them from storms and tidal surges – making it the first time that the approach has been deployed at this scale in the UK,
To mirror the number of wild oysters released into the sea, Groundwork NE & Cumbria and its supporters are creating 4,000 crocheted creatures for adoption.
Adopters will receive a beautifully handmade mystery oyster with an official adoption certificate providing a link to project updates. All crocheted oysters will be unique, ranging in size, shape and colour.
The crocheted creatures have been created using a free downloadable pattern from Groundwork NE & Cumbria’s website. Crochet form: https://forms.office.com/e/zkLsCjsNDj
Dr Ashleigh Tinlin-Mackenzie, Marine Ecology Technical Lead for Tyne & Wear at Groundwork NE & Cumbria, said;
“Restoring native oysters is not just about bringing back a lost species but about building a healthier, more resilient North Sea. Oyster water filtration improves local water quality and clarity, and the new oyster reef cubes that we have used create homes for other marine species, providing feeding and nursery grounds and boosting marine biodiversity.”
Lisa Locke, Director of Business Development at Groundwork NE & Cumbria said:
“By crocheting an oyster, or adopting one, you’ll be supporting the Wild Oyster Project, doing your bit to help our local marine recovery and helping to return these incredible native species to our shores. Wild Oysters are UK’s underwater superheroes. A single oyster can filter up to 200 litres of water per day, equivalent to a bathful of water, and the reefs they create provide a welcome habitat for other species.”
Register now to adopt one of these unique, hand-made crocheted oysters and help raise much-needed funds to support these environmental efforts.
Give an oyster a home (crocheted variety), Adopt Today:
Crochet and knitting enthusiasts keen to do their bit for the environment can download the free oyster pattern, start crocheting and donate their handiwork to the oyster restoration cause.