Skip to content

WINTER ON THE WEST COAST LAUNCH

Join the list

Cart

Your cart is empty

THE OCEAN THAT SHAPES US

Kelp, rooted in the coast

Dr Ian Hendy is a marine ecologist, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth and the co-founder of Kernowfornia Soul with his wife, Clare.

His research takes him from Cornwall’s Atlantic shores to the waters off Hampshire, where he studies how underwater habitats give young fish a place to feed, shelter and grow. In this series, Ian takes us beneath the surface to explore the kelp forests that shape the coast we love.

Healthy Kelp. Living Coastlines.

The ocean shapes everything we do.

Kelp forests are some of the most important ecosystems on the planet. They protect coastlines from erosion, support marine biodiversity and help capture carbon from the atmosphere. When kelp thrives, coastlines thrive.

In Cornwall, these underwater forests once stretched far wider than they do today.

 

Why Kelp Matters

Kelp is more than seaweed drifting at the tide line. It forms complex underwater habitats that shelter fish, invertebrates and countless marine species. It stabilises sediment. It softens wave energy. It contributes to climate resilience.

Healthy kelp forests mean stronger, more balanced oceans.

 

Why It’s Personal

Dr Ian Hendy, PhD Marine Biologist, has spent his career studying marine ecosystems and coastal dynamics. For us, the ocean isn’t a backdrop, it’s structure, science and responsibility.

Living and working on the Cornish coast means we see change first-hand. Supporting restoration is not a branding exercise. It’s a long-term commitment.

 

What We’re Doing

We are committing to donating a proportion of candle sale profits towards kelp restoration initiatives in Cornwall.

Alongside financial support, we engage in outreach and direct involvement where possible, building relationships with local marine organisations and contributing to awareness around coastal restoration.

This is ongoing work. We are building it carefully, transparently and for the long term.

 

Small Actions. Living Coastlines.

Every candle supports more than atmosphere.

It supports recovery.

 

Work happening along the coast.

COASTAL ECOLOGY

Laminaria digitata kelp fronds curling across the water’s surface, with sunlight illuminating their golden-brown blades.
Coastal habitats

Can a Lost Underwater Forest Grow Back?

A familiar coastline. A missing forest beneath the surface. Dr Ian Hendy considers what it takes for kelp to return, and when young fish might follow.

Read more
What a Kelp Forest Does While We’re on the Beach
Blue carbon

What a Kelp Forest Does While We’re on the Beach

While we’re on the beach, kelp is busy offshore. Dr Ian Hendy explores the carbon journeys, nutrients and shaded habitats beneath the surface.

Read more
Coastal habitats

Beneath the Swell: How Kelp Forests Shelter Young Fish

Beneath the swell, a forest moves with the tide. Among its fronds, young fish find food, shelter and places to disappear. A closer look at what kelp makes possible.

Read more