Cornish campaigners linking coastal woodland to the health of seas, rivers and watery habitats have won the backing of Falmouth Harbour as their 2026 environmental charity.
No Trees No Seas is the new campaign launched by Community Interest Company (CIC) Plant One Cornwall, which is working with businesses, individuals and landowners to create native woodland to help restore ocean and river habitats.
The campaign is based on the groundbreaking scientific research of Dr Ben Phillips, Dr Ian Hendy of Portsmouth University and Sam Manning of The Woodland Trust which proves that by restoring woodlands, fish stocks can be restored, sea grass and kelp can be revived and, crucially, plankton decline can be reversed.
No Trees No Seas’ aim is to establish 500 hectares of “flowscape” forest around the Cornish coast by mapping out and targeting key areas for coastal woodland creation. Two such flowscape projects are underway in the Fal catchment area at Trefusis and Gargus Farm, while a third is planned for the next planting season at Penare on Dodman Point, the prominent headland that defines the eastern boundary of Falmouth Harbour’s operating and pilotage area.
“For years we have followed our passionate belief in the restoration and creation of native woodland, supported by an incredible array of galvanised individuals and organisations,” says arborist Carl Rowlinson, who co-founded Plant One Cornwall with marine biologist Rai Lewis four years ago.
“We are creating a mix of Atlantic Oak wood, low land Oakwood and deep woodland hedgerow buffers, designed to filter pollutants and stop them entering the watercourses, and to create much needed habitats.”
Falmouth Harbour as a Trust Port has a statutory duty to protect and enhance its coastal environment and habitats, alongside the prosperity of its commercial and leisure activities, for the benefit of current and future generations.
“The relationship between our coast, rivers and seas is key to everything we do,” says Environmental Manager Vicki Spooner, “and while Falmouth Harbour oversees and has direct authority over 63 square miles of Harbour area, there is so much surrounding river and coast over which we have no control but which impacts us nonetheless.
“Plant One’s brilliant No Trees No Seas campaign is highlighting the symbiotic nature of our ecosystems and how reforestation is essential to restoring these complex habitats and we’re really happy to do our small part in supporting their work as our environmental charity for 2026.”
By the end of the current season in March, Plant One Cornwall with their volunteering partners will have planted 80,000 trees across 22 sites, totalling 65 hectares of new woodland established over the last 5 years. Their work with landowners and farmers to enhance their land, keep it productive and create much needed habitat is supported by more than 50 different organisations.
Environment consultant and Founder of Surfers Against Sewage Chris Hines says, “Plant One is brilliant. At times the whole climate and biodiversity crises can feel overwhelming and leave you questioning what you can do.
“Taking part in a planting day gives that connection to the planet and nature and you get to achieve what may feel like a small thing, but it will last for hundreds of years. It gives you a renewed sense of purpose and connection to nature and other people. That’s how forests get planted!”
Sam Manning from the Woodland Trust says, “There has never been more of an urgent time for a campaign of this kind, with the UK falling short of its legally binding woodland creation targets to combat the climate and nature crisis, we need new and powerful stories about the value of trees and woodlands.”
Landowners, public and private organisations and individuals wanting to help, support or find out more about Plant One Cornwall and its No Trees No Seas campaign can visit https://plantonecornwall.com/ or https://notreesnoseas.com/ which includes a new film about the campaign.
For more on the work of Falmouth Harbour including its many environmental initiatives visit www.falmouthharbour.co.uk or call the Falmouth Harbour team on 01326 213537.
