Category: Final Straw Updates

  • Volunteers scrubbing oysters at the Portsmouth Marine Labs as part of the Final Straw Foundation oyster restoration programme

    Oyster Restoration Project: 10,000 Volunteers Make a Difference

    In November 2025, over 150 volunteers dedicated 700 hours to scrub 10,000 European flat oysters for the Final Straw Foundation’s restoration project, aimed at repopulating marine ecosystems in Portsmouth, Hayling Island, and Gosport. This effort, guided by the Blue Marine Foundation, addresses significant declines in oyster populations and enhances regional biodiversity.

  • Wild Beach School

    The Wild Beach School program, launched by the Final Straw Foundation in 2022, has connected over 3000 children in Hampshire and West Sussex with coastal ecosystems through hands-on learning. It fosters environmental stewardship, creativity, and teamwork while enhancing well-being. The initiative aims to provide all schools access, ensuring every child experiences the beach.

  • 10,000 Native Oysters to be Reintroduced into Local Waters

    This winter, we will be installing 10,000 native oysters in marinas across the Solent to study their effects on water quality and help repopulate the waters with this incredible species. Since the 1800s, the population of the native European flat oyster has been decimated by 95% across Europe, due to overexploitation, pollution and habitat destruction.…