The Deep has been shortlisted for the Great British Wildlife Restoration competition, a prestigious scheme that recognises the incredible work being done to restore native species in the country.

The shortlist includes projects restoring red squirrels, planting seagrass and improving nature reserves.
The Deep is proud to be recognised for its contribution towards the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams project, which sees a collaboration of local organisations and charities rallying together to safeguard the future of the rare Crystal Moss Animal, which has been spotted at a ‘blow well’ in Lincolnshire.
These tiny, filter-feeding invertebrates can be found around the UK, however ‘blow wells’ are a globally scarce type of habitat that are isolated to just 37 sites around North & North East Lincolnshire. Factors such as habitat loss and environmental pressures have placed the remarkable Crystal Moss animal at risk of disappearing altogether.
To halt this decline, the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project (LCSP) is uniting councils, charities, and conservation groups through Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme. The Deep is contributing specialist expertise in water analysis to assess which blow well sites can support healthy populations of the animal.
Beyond habitat surveys, The Deep is rearing Crystal Moss Animals from statoblasts, tiny survival capsules that can grow into new colonies in the right conditions. This innovative approach could one day enable populations to be restored across multiple sites, securing the species’ survival for the future.
The project spanned across nearly two years of dedicated fieldwork, involving countless hours in waders, lab work under microscopes, and the tireless collaboration of volunteers, researchers, and conservationists across the country. Thanks to pioneering techniques such as environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, the Crystal Moss animal has now been detected at 12 sites across 8 counties, including both historic locations and new discoveries. This is a hugely encouraging sign that this often-overlooked species may be more resilient and widespread than previously believed.
The project will now vie for the votes and the attention of Members of Parliament who will decide a winner in January. Last year’s winning project was Chester Zoo’s rescue mission to save one of Wales’ rarest plants.
The Great British Wildlife Restoration, which is organised by BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) aims to shine a spotlight on some of the amazing work taking place to tackle the drastic decline of our native species and will urge politicians to act now for our nature.
The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project joins 26 other shortlisted projects. Together these projects demonstrate the sheer range of activities by zoos and aquariums across Britain to protect and restore our native species and bring people closer to nature.
Andy Hall, BIAZA’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager and the founder of the Great British Wildlife Restoration said:
“These amazing projects are just a snapshot of the decades of dedicated work that conservationists are putting into our great British wildlife. Its up to all of us to make a difference and make sure future generations will live in a better and wilder world.”
Ben Jones, Director of Husbandry & Exhibition, said:
“As a conservation charity, it has been incredibly rewarding to participate in the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project, offering support and expertise to aid a small team with an exciting ambition: to conserve Lincolnshire’s hidden gem.
“Native species projects may be overlooked; however, they are equally as crucial as large-scale global projects in conserving species. Native conservation projects, such as the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project and the many others that BIAZA members are involved with, work tirelessly to help secure the future of some of our most loved yet threatened species here in the UK.
“That’s why we are immensely proud to have been shortlisted for the award, and to be part of amplifying the fantastic work of BIAZA member sites through the brilliant Great British Wildlife Restoration competition.”
As a shortlisted project. The Deep will be invited to a special awards evening at the House of the Speaker of the House of Commons in January 2026. The winner will have received the most votes from supportive Members of Parliament or Members of the House of Lords.