We are pleased to see the latest Living Seawalls ecological project installed at Padstow Harbour. The project enhances marine biodiversity along the harbour wall using nature-based design.
The scheme is led by the Duchy of Cornwall in partnership with Cornwall-based environmental charity Our Only World. It brings an Earthshot Prize finalist solution to the North Cornwall coast.
We manufacture the Living Seawalls tiles at our production facility in Banagher, Ireland using waste materials, upholding our sustainability pledges and circular economy principles. We are proud to be the only holders of this exclusive licence for the UK and Ireland.
The final installation phase was completed this week. Earlier phases were installed in November. Our Living Seawalls tiles sit alongside other ecological tile systems. This allows performance to be compared across different designs.
Living Seawalls was named an Earthshot Prize Finalist in 2021. The tiles are designed to replicate the complexity of natural shorelines, with textured surfaces that mimic rockpools and crevices. These features create refuge, feeding and breeding spaces for myriad marine species. Marine life typically begins colonising the tiles within weeks.
The Padstow Harbour project has been developed over three years by Our Only World founder Tina Robinson. It has been supported by funding from the Duchy of Cornwall. The project forms part of the Duchy’s wider work to enhance biodiversity across its coastal assets.
Ongoing ecological monitoring at Padstow Harbour will assess how different tile designs perform over time. The results will help identify where similar interventions could be introduced next. They will also support the wider use of biodiversity-enhancing coastal infrastructure across the UK and Ireland.
At Padstow Harbour, Living Seawalls tiles are installed alongside systems from Exo Engineering and CubeX, supporting research into which approaches best enhance Cornwall’s marine habitats.
