When Steve Allnutt, an orthopaedic practitioner working across Royal Sussex County, Princess Royal and the Royal Alex hospitals, is not looking after patients in fracture clinics, he is dedicated to the regeneration of marine ecosystems.
With more than 30 years experience freediving, he has successfully helped grow Sussex native kelp to help rewild the Sussex coast.
Steve is an advocate for the environment and founder of the Sussex Seabed Restoration project, a marine rewilding programme aiming to restore Sussex kelp.
Kelp are a type of large algae seaweed that live in cool, relatively shallow waters close to the shore and are vital in protecting and producing a healthy ocean.
Steve said: “The research and the science behind Sussex Kelp restoration really came together over the last few years. With donations from local people, I raised over £20,000 and invested in new equipment to purify the seawater and work on the brown algae wavelength. It’s been an incredible journey watching the kelp grow and seabed improve.”
“It’s crucial we care and protect our environment, and I hope the work we have done has generated recognition of the significant impact that both local and wider communities can have in looking after our seas and the environment as a whole.”
Steve’s groundbreaking work has been featured in many media outlets, including, BBC News, ITV Meridian and The Guardian.
We wanted to shine a ‘GreenSpotlight’ on him and the fantastic work he is doing inside and outside our hospitals.
You can read more about the UHSussex Patient First, Planet First Green Plan, which is supporting the NHS to become the world’s first net zero health service on our website.
You can find out more about the Sussex Seabed Restoration project on Steve’s channels:
Instagram: @sussex_seabed_restoration
Facebook Group: Sussex Seabed Restoration Project
Don’t miss the new ‘Seabed Stories’ comic featuring Steve by Russ Iden in Inside Worthing magazine.
