AN INITIATIVE to protect the natural habitat off our coast has gone on tour to spread its message across the south west.

The Community Seagrass Initiative (CSI), a pioneering project which was launched to create and protect underwater habitats in shallow waters, is now being exhibited at Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Chesil Beach centre in Weymouth, and in Devon at the Living Coasts centre.

CSI is a pioneering research project led by the National Marine Aquarium. Covering the 191 mile stretch of coastline from Looe in Cornwall to Weymouth, the project is finding out more about native seagrass and seahorses to help conserve their fragile eco-systems. Seagrass is the world’s only fully marine flowering plants, which creates large meadows in shallow waters on sandy seabed.

Rachel Cole, community seagrass initiative Torbay Project Officer, said: “It’s a great feeling to be able to provide our project supporters with an educational and attractive display about seagrass. Hopefully the visitors to the zoos, aquariums and centres will take a peek at the travelling exhibit and learn at least one thing about seagrass which they could pass on to friends and family, therefore raising awareness of the vital local marine habitat.”

Clare Rugg, operations manager at Living Coasts, added: “The visitors are fascinated to read about grass under the sea – the eye catching display is a great way to tell visitors more about the project and the sea grass habitat right on their doorstep.

“The children love the tactile seahorse and this prompts discussion with the parents about the display.”

There are many seagrass meadows, or beds, around the south west of the UK and West coast of Scotland.

Seagrass The meadows provide act like an underwater rainforest, providing shelter for all sorts of marine species, on an otherwise featureless seabed. Seagrass meadows are home to some of the most charismatic species in the UK such as seahorses and cuttlefish, and act as a nursery ground for commercial fish species. They can also improve water quality and stabilise sediments, reducing coastal erosion.

The striking exhibit that will be displayed at the two centres will be a wooden seahorse centrepiece, which will engage and educate visitors on the importance of seagrass habitats, the animals that use seagrass as their home, the importance of coastal communities and information about the CSI project. As seagrass grows in shallow sandy areas close to shore, there is huge potential for humans to impact upon it.

The CSI exhibit will raise awareness of this vital but often overlooked marine habitat.

Spearheaded by the National Marine Aquarium, CSI is in partnership with Plymouth University Maine Institute, Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, Weymouth SEALIFE centre and Living Coasts – and was made possible by a £475,000 grant received by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2014.

The exhibit will be on display until the Easter holidays in Weymouth, and until mid-March in Devon.