Falmouth Harbour Backs No Trees No Seas Campaign for 2026

Could Trees Be the Key to Reviving Cornwall’s Seas?

A Cornish campaign linking the health of coastal woodland with the condition of seas and rivers has gained new backing, with Falmouth Harbour choosing No Trees No Seas as its environmental charity for 2026.

The campaign was launched by Community Interest Company Plant One Cornwall and focuses on creating native woodland to help restore ocean and river habitats across the county.

Plant One Cornwall works with businesses, individuals and landowners to establish woodland that helps filter pollutants before they reach waterways while also supporting wildlife habitats.

📷Plant One volunteers Will and son Ollie at Trefusis

Linking Trees to the Health of the Sea

The No Trees No Seas campaign is based on scientific research from Dr Ben Phillips and Dr Ian Hendy of Portsmouth University, alongside Sam Manning of the Woodland Trust. Their work shows that restoring woodland can help revive fish stocks, restore seagrass and kelp, and reverse the decline of plankton.

The campaign aims to establish 500 hectares of “flowscape” forest around the Cornish coast by mapping and targeting areas for coastal woodland creation.

Two flowscape woodland projects are already underway in the Fal catchment area at Trefusis and Gargus Farm. A third is planned for the next planting season at Penare on Dodman Point, the headland that forms the eastern boundary of Falmouth Harbour’s operating and pilotage area.

Arborist Carl Rowlinson, who co-founded Plant One Cornwall with marine biologist Rai Lewis four years ago, said:

“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.

“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.”

Support From Falmouth Harbour

Falmouth Harbour has a statutory duty as a Trust Port to protect and enhance its coastal environment and habitats, while also supporting the prosperity of its commercial and leisure activities.

Environmental Manager Vicki Spooner said the harbour’s connection to surrounding rivers and coastline makes the campaign particularly relevant.

“The relationship between our coast, rivers and seas is key to everything we do,” said Vicki Spooner.

“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.”

Thousands of Trees Already Planted

By the end of the current season in March, Plant One Cornwall and its volunteering partners will have planted 80,000 trees across 22 sites. That represents 65 hectares of new woodland created over the past five years.

The organisation works with landowners and farmers to help enhance their land while keeping it productive and creating wildlife habitats. More than 50 organisations currently support this work.

Environment consultant and Surfers Against Sewage founder Chris Hines said:

“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 also highlighted the urgency of woodland creation:

“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.”

How to Get Involved

Landowners, organisations and individuals interested in supporting the campaign can find out more at Plant One Cornwall or by visiting the No Trees No Seas website, which also features a film about the campaign.

More information about the harbour and its environmental work can be found on the Falmouth Harbour website or by calling the team on 01326 213537.

📷Plant One's Chris Lewis examines a sapling at Trefusis Plantonetrefusis-116