Marine Life & Conservation
Weird and not-so-wonderful UK beach litter discoveries
The Marine Conservation Society’s year-round Beachwatch programme, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, sees dedicated volunteers clearing litter from the UK’s coast and surveying what they find. Whilst much of the data is used to campaign for policies to slow the tide of single-use plastics entering the ocean, sometimes the charity’s volunteers find some weird and not-so-wonderful items washed up on British beaches.
The charity has gathered some of the weirdest items found by volunteers, showing that you truly never know what you’ll find on the UK’s shores, or how long it’s been there for.
- A double mattress
- Plastic Christmas tree
- A plastic Olaf figure
- A single wedding shoe
- A wig
- 20-year-old crisp packet
- A fridge door
- Christmas tree baubles
- Pink women’s underwear, found by astronaut Tim Peake
- Glitterball
Many of the items reported by Marine Conservation Society volunteers show just how long litter can last. Crisp packets, one of the most commonly littered items year on year, can last decades, as proven by the 20-year-old crisp packet found by one volunteer.
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “I was shocked to learn about the vast assortment and sizes of the items that have been washed up on our beaches. It is a stark reminder that we need to do more to protect our seas and I’m delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery continue to support this valuable work.”
People’s Postcode Lottery players have raised £2.65 million for Marine Conservation Society and have been supporting both the Great British Beach Clean and the Beachwatch programme since 2018.
Beachwatch is the Marine Conservation Society’s national beach cleaning and litter survey programme, running year-round with thousands of volunteers across the UK helping to care for the coastline.
Among these weirder items found on the beaches, the pandemic has also impacted the type of litter washing up on UK beaches, with the charity’s Great British Beach Clean report revealing that almost 30% of beaches had discarded PPE on them, posing a significant threat to wildlife. Disposable masks shed microplastics that can be ingested by marine life, whilst sea birds can become entangled in the straps. 70% of inland picks also found PPE, and it’s only a matter of time before these find their way into our ocean, potentially polluting it for years to come.
To read more about the Marine Conservation Society’s Beachwatch programme, register and see how to get involved, please visit the Beachwatch website.
Marine Life & Conservation
Steve Backshall to headline Shark Trust’s flagship event: For the Love of Sharks
Join a host of amazing, shark loving, speakers including Steve Backshall and the Shark Trust team for an evening celebrating shark conservation at the Royal Geographical Society in London this November.
Date: 29th November 2024
Time: 6-10pm
Location: Royal Geographical Society, London
Tickets: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24
The event will be a celebration of all things shark. Those lucky enough to get hold of tickets will hear from engaging guest speakers with a passion for sharks.
The line-up includes (*subject to change if unforeseen circumstances arise)
Steve Backshall: One of television’s busiest presenters, BAFTA award-winning wildlife expert Steve has been passionate about the wild world ever since he was young.
Steve’s impressive TV career has taken him all around the world, investigating a wide array of species and environments. Steve has filmed over 100 hours of children’s wildlife programmes with the BAFTA award winning Deadly 60 franchise and recently, with Sky Nature, for his new series ‘Whale with Steve Backshall’. He has been a patron for the Shark Trust for 10 years.
Simon Rogerson: is a photojournalist specialising in natural history, diving and the sea.
He is editor of SCUBA magazine, the official journal of the British Sub-Aqua Club. Simon started his career as a crime reporter but gravitated towards his ‘less depressing’ interest in underwater exploration, joining the staff of DIVE magazine in 1999. In 2005 he was named ‘Editor of the Year’ in the PPA’s Independent Publishing Awards. Simon also works as a freelance writer, contributing frequently to the Sunday Times and Telegraph, in addition to BBC Wildlife, Esquire, and a host of international diving magazines. He is the author of a book, Dive Red Sea, published by Ultimate Sports. Now based in Berkshire, Simon has been a Patron of the Shark Trust for 20 years.
More speakers to be announced soon. Head to the Shark Trust website to learn more.
The evening will also allow guests the final chance to see the Oceanic 31, shark art exhibition. Some of the artwork will be auctioned/raffled at the event, while the rest will be auctioned online to raise money for the Shark Trust Oceanic Programme.
For the Love of Sharks is an evening with something for everyone who is interested and fascinated by sharks. Join the Shark Trust, their Patrons, Trustees and Staff, along with a host of supporters for this celebration of shark conservation.
For more information or to buy a ticket: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24
The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!
Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants
The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.
The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.
Campaign Aims
- Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
- Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
- Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
- Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!
Donate, and double your impact. Click Here
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