Our Sea Forest

Narrated by Chris Packham

Aired on BBC1 for the ‘Our Lives’ strand, Our Sea Forest tells the moving story of how a once thriving kelp forest, home to a multitude of different sea creatures was lost, and its slow road to recovery.

Told through the eyes of Eric Smith, a 74-year-old free diver, this is a powerful story of hope. Eric has been diving in Sussex since he was 11 years old. He remembers a rich and vibrant ecosystem.

The Sussex Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA), initiated a landmark ruling in 2021, consequently protecting over 300 sq. kilometres of seabed.

Filmed over three years, Our Sea Forest includes remarkable scenes as Eric dives with giant 40-pound sting rays, witness’s mussel beds return, and rare seabream breeding on the seabed again.

Kelp beds are a vital marine ecosystem.  Across the world they are in serious decline, undeniably making this a story of both local and international importance.

Catch up with this show on iplayer

A Sneak Peak

In one of the scenes we see Eric’s daughter Catrine firstly posting on their community facebook page, Sussex Underwater – GIVE THEM A FOLLOW. Secondly, she mobilises supporters to find cuttlefish eggs dislodged by a summer storm.

“We wanted to show people what was happening underwater, so it was no longer out of sight, out of mind.” – Catrine

Then, Catrine meets with Dexter Broad, an expert who’s been rescuing stranded cuttlefish eggs for many years.

“Where the kelp beds have disappeared, the cuttlefish no longer have nursery grounds to lay their eggs in, so they wash up on beaches” says Dexter. “Out of water the eggs would soon dry out and die, I just like to give them a chance”. 

Warning: this is a specialist job as cuttlefish eggs need a specially aerated, seawater tank.

In another heartwarming scene, Eric shares his love of the sea with Catrine, who confesses to not being a natural water lover. She nervously joins her dad in ‘his world.’

Remarkably, with hands held, they witness a beautiful mature female stingray, some 6ft long, gliding through the water off Bognor Regis. Sightings of these majestic rays have increased since the landmark ban.

More about the Sussex kelp recovery

Campaign film narrated by Sir David Attenborough

Sussex Kelp Restoration Project – 6 month update film

We support the work of the SUSSEX KELP RECOVERY PROJECT

Please check out their site and GIVE THEM A FOLLOW.

Made up of  a team of leading UK scientists, NGO’s, Sussex IFCA and local authorities including Adur and Worthing Council, The Sussex Kelp Recovery project believes the recovery needs to be monitored scientifically, that nature will run it course and that the kelp should restore naturally.

Our Sea Forest in the news

• Broadcast Now

• The Independant

• The Mirror

• Outrage Optimist

OUR LIVES STRAND

From diving under the waves, to riding them! Cornwall’s Wildest Wave was also made for BBC Our Lives strand in 2022. Click here to find out more – Cornwall’s Wildest Wave

‘Tom Butler is a big wave surfer. For the last ten years he’s ridden some of the largest waves in the world, but he’s been ignoring what’s in his backyard off Cornwall’s wild north coast’.