Nearly 15,000 oysters scattered into Hampshire river to create new habitat

The oysters have been transferred from South Wales to seed in the new habitat created in the Swanwick bend of the river Hamble in Hampshire.

Oysters being scattered on to new beds in the river Hamblse, Hampshire, by the Blue Marine Foundation (James Blake/Blue Marine Foundation/PA)

Nearly 15,000 oysters have been sprinkled on a newly-created oyster bed as part of a project to reintroduce the native species to the Solent region.

The oysters have been transferred from South Wales to seed in the new habitat created in the Swanwick bend of the river Hamble in Hampshire.

To create the restoration reef, a thin layer of shingle mixed with cockleshells – known as “cultch”, was laid on 2,500 square metres of the river bed.