Oliver designed his oyster print inspired by the incredible positive impact wild oysters have on the environment. Ben Goldsmith, founder of one our environmental partners Conservation Collective explains the importance of restoring the oyster beds around the UK.
“In times gone by the seas surrounding Britain were a vivid blue, rather than the dull brown we know today. Principally, this is because we have dredged up and lost the extensive oyster beds and seagrass meadows that once encircled our island, stabilising the muddy seabed beneath, and filtering the seawater. Today, a growing number of rewilding initiatives seek to restore these magical ecosystems and our near-shore marine environment to its former vibrancy.”
Read more about the work that The Conservation Collective does here.
Inroads are being made, the 'Solent Oyster Restoration Project' was founded on the knowledge that an estimated 85% of the world's oyster beds and reef habitats have perished. The Blue Marine Foundation, a UK based charity, have created a program to reintroduce millions of oysters into The Solent, the body of water between the bottom of England and the Isle of Wight.
