#hedgerowcleans and why I’m devoted to litter picking.
We all know about the ocean plastic pollution problem now. Turtles mistaking plastic bags for jelly fish (their food)…
And now a recent study of 50 marine mammals washed up on British shores — including dolphins, seals and whales — found all of them had digested plastic.
Synthetic fibres that could have come from fishing nets or clothes, while others were fragments of larger pieces that may have been food packaging or plastic bottles.
Beach cleans are very popular now, thanks can be given to Blue Planet 2 and David Attenborough. If you’re interested in learning more I’d highly recommend A Plastic Ocean the 2013 Documentary. The Producer Jo Ruxton realised the ocean plastic pollution problem was too important not to make a film about it and has worked on spreading awareness since through science and education programmes.
I love being involved with beach cleans, I feel like I’m making a difference when I’m cleaning up, preventing the litter from being washed into the sea, and cleaning up what’s been washed up. Numerous studies have shown the damage this is doing to wildlife of all sorts, birds, mammals, fish.
It’s important to clean up in-land too! It’s heartbreaking how much litter I see everyday driving to work. So at the weekend I go out and clean up.
The litter in our hedgerows, along the roadside, country footpaths, urban areas, rural areas, everywhere. It’ll get blown into streams and rivers by wind and rain into the sea. Surfers Against Sewage has a campaign this year, cleaning up “Summit to Sea”.
It starts at your doorstep, where you live, where you work and where you walk.
This is what you can all do to be an Eco warrior. We shouldn’t have to clean up after other people. It’s disgusting that people discard rubbish into our environment, but I strongly believe that the more of us that show this problem and do our best to mitigate it WILL create change.
Next time you go for a walk, even if it’s just around the corner, take a bag and pick up what you see.
- You’ll be shocked and disgusted.
- You’ll make a difference.
Litter is mostly single use plastic. Drinks bottles, crisps packets, sandwich wrappers, chocolate wrappers coffee cups (they look like paper but they’re lined with plastic). All these throw away, disposable products are polluting our environment, our countryside, rivers, seas and food chain.
Solution? Buy less, use less. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Zero waste shops are popping up all over! So excited! Take your own containers and buy your pasta, rice and beans.
You can refill your dish soap, your shower gel and washing detergent.
The solutions are there and they’re easy!
We’ve got this!
Chillcott's Circular Thoughts 