SCH502 - Beachwatch report 2017 v07_artwork 07/07/2018 13:42 Page 1 Beachwatch Results 2017

806 litter35 surveys were carried out on 24 beaches covering over 7.5km of the Suffolk coast and estuaries.

KEY SUFFOLK FACTS 2017 14,110 788 items of litter were % recorded and removed 75 from Suffolk beaches of litter collected in and foreshores. Suffolk Great British Beach Cleans, was made of plastic or polystyrene. SCH502 - Beachwatch report 2017 v07_artwork 07/07/2018 13:42 Page 2

Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Beach surveys The AONB is proud to present Top 10 Litter Items the results of the litter surveys Litter item (Categories are taken Total carried out by volunteers in Rank from the MCS Beachwatch items Items % of Suffolk as part of the Marine Volunteer Survey Sheet) found / km total litter Conservation Society’s 1 Plastic / polystyrene pieces (small) 2236 64 16.3 Beachwatch schemes in 2017. 2 Plastic / polystyrene pieces (large) 1742 50 12.7 The results help to illustrate the extent of Packets: crisp, sweet, lolly, the problem of rubbish on our beaches 3 1656 47 12.1 sandwich and estuaries, and also the fantastic efforts made by Suffolk volunteers to help 4 Plastic caps / lids 788 23 5.7 tackle the problem. Beachwatch is a Nylon string / cord / rope: 5 707 20 5.1 national scheme organised by the Marine thickness 0 – 1 cm Conservation Society (MCS) and 6 Cigarette stubs 433 12 3.2 coordinated in Suffolk by the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding 7 Plastic cutlery / trays / straws 426 12 3.1 Natural Beauty (AONB). 8 Cotton bud sticks 411 12 3.0 Whilst Beachwatch surveys take place at quarterly intervals, the Great British Beach 9 Glass pieces 302 9 2.2 Clean (GBBC) is the annual event taking 10 Plastic cups 275 8 2.0 place on the third weekend of September and is the UK contribution to the Grand Total 8976 257 65.4 International Coastal Clean-Up. NB. 9 of the Top 10 Litter Items in Suffolk in 2017 were all of plastic composition.

Please see the Marine Conservation Society website, www.mcsuk.org for the Great British Beach Clean 2017 Final Report.

Public 42% Non-sourced 39% Items like plastic bags, drinks bottles, food We call it non-sourced because it's containers, drinks cans, dog poo bags, glass bottles, hard to work out where most of the cigarette stubs and balloons have all had a helping litter we find comes from. It includes human hand on their journey to the beach. tiny little plastic and polystyrene pieces, bits of rubber, cloth, pieces Medical 0% of metal, wood, paper etc. Luckily we don't find much medical stuff, Sources but it does turn up – pill packets, plasters, syringes and needles. of Litter Fishing 10% If it helps you catch fish, we’ve found Fly-Tipped 1% it – line, net, crab pots and tops, fish Illegally disposed of items, usually big items like boxes, weights, lures and hooks. white goods, TVs, car parts and paint tins.

Shipping 3% Sewage Related Debris 5% Lots of litter gets dropped, lost or thrown overboard Stuff people flush down the loo when it from small craft to massive cargo ships – this is shipping should go in the bin like condoms, cotton litter and can include pallets, oil drums and bits of rope. bud sticks, wet wipes, toilet fresheners etc.

Definitions taken from MCS Great British Beach Clean 2017 Report.

Cover image: Adnams Plc. at The Denes, Southwold, organised by Benedict Orchard, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Adnams Plc. Photo courtesy of Benedict Orchard.

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Plastic…not so fantastic By Emma Cunningham, Senior Pollutions Campaign Officer, Marine Conservation Society

Since the airing of Blue Planet II and for more than 80% of the plastic businesses to stop handing out plastic other collaborations such as the Sky packaging in UK supermarkets – straws freely. Ocean Rescue campaign, marine litter together with Waste & Resources Take action>> Check out the has shot up the public and government Action Programme (WRAP) and the ‘Last Straw’ challenge at agendas. In the last 6 months we have Ellen McArthur Foundation, have www.mcsuk.org/clean-seas/straws. seen: a microbead ban brought into formed the 'Plastic Pact' with voluntary For an item we only use for a few force in the UK – probably the best ban commitments to make unnecessary minutes – that’s even less time than a worldwide so far in terms of the range single-use plastic packaging “a thing of single-use carrier bag or a plastic take- of products included and its definition the past”. It's great to see companies away cup is used of plastic; the announcement of a wanting to be part of the solution but – plastic straws 25-year environment plan for the UK; a it remains to be seen whether a really do suck. consultation on using the tax system or voluntary approach with no binding charges to reduce single-use plastic; targets, is the right one. Take action>> and the EU has introduced a new You can also get All in all, it’s been a busy and positive plastic strategy. involved with the year and we need to work and build MCS plastic Scotland has committed to bringing in on this momentum and interest to challenge to a Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for ensure that the impacts of marine #goplasticfree. drinks containers and is in the process litter continue to be addressed and Our book, ‘How of looking at the best possible system solutions developed. to Live Plastic for Scotland. MCS were a founding As an individual member of the Free’ will help. member of the 'Have You Got The public, how can you get involved right Bottle' campaign which was now? We want to reduce single-use www.mcsuk.org/shop/index.php?r instrumental in pushing for this in plastic. One challenge is to ‘refuse the oute=product/category&path=71. Scotland and we have been straw’ and help to persuade campaigning hard with our partners the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), Greenpeace, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and Keep Wales Tidy (KWT) for schemes to be implemented in England and Wales. England has recently committed to looking at a DRS and Wales is making some positive noises in this direction. Hopefully this will mean that an integrated system between the three nations can be implemented. As well as showing support for DRS, several major supermarkets have also made further commitments such as reducing or eliminating plastics from their own brand products and no longer using black plastics. Several venues and festivals have also taken steps to reduce single plastic usage at their sites through such measures as deposit systems for drinks containers and banning bottled water. In addition to this, 42 major

international companies – responsible Daughter / Farrow Guy ©

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Summary of results 2017

Number Length Total Total Total Average Beach Total Beach Name Organiser & Organisation of surveyed bags weight litter Items / No. volunteers surveys (m) collected (kg) items 100m Alice Eastaugh, 1 Southwold: Lighthouse 1 18 100 6 6 229 229.0 St. Felix School, Southwold 2 Southwold: The Denes Benedict Orchard, Adnams Plc. 3 169 300 95 150 827 275.7 Daniel Wareing, 3 Walberswick 1 1 100 0.25 0.32 78 78.0 Suffolk Coastal Norse Richard Gilbert, 4 Minsmere Haven 1 12 100 2 4 240 240.0 National Trust Dunwich Heath Sonya Exton, 5 Minsmere Cliffs 2 41 200 6 1.6 235 117.5 Earl Soham Primary School 6 Minsmere Beach Matt Parrott, RSPB 1 25 200 9 ? 99 49.5 7 Sizewell Beverley Rogers, SWT 1 17 100 3 16.2 293 293.0 Aldeburgh: Moot Hall to 8 Beverley Rogers, SWT 1 36 100 5 3.5 586 586.0 Lifeboat Station Aldeburgh: South Lookout Beverley Rogers, 9 Tower to North Lookout 1 2 100 2 1.2 234 234.0 SWT Tower Aldeburgh: Fort Green Alona Ochert, 10 2 68 200 9 9.4 575 287.5 Car Park 1 Deben District Scouts Aldeburgh: Fort Green Alona Ochert, 11 2 49 200 7 4.6 467 233.5 Car Park 2 Deben District Scouts Lynn Allen, 12 Bawdsey: East Lane South 3 56 300 7.75 42.15 2900 966.7 Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB

13 Bawdsey Quay Barbara Zion, local group 1 15 100 3.25 12 724 724.0

Felixstowe: 13th hole to Tim Pearse, The Rotary Club of 14 1 2 200 0.25 0.5 102 51.0 The Dip , Landguard Felixstowe: Cobbolds Point Keith Horn, 15 4 35 400 5 6 768 192.0 to Spa Pavilion The Felixstowe Society Felixstowe: Cobbolds Point Sue Lewis, 15 1 25 200 1.75 9 189 94.5 to Spa Pavilion The Felixstowe Society 16 Felixstowe Pier, North Paul Bailey, 1st Felixstowe Sea Scouts 1 20 100 2 7.4 521 521.0 Felixstowe: Port to Rageenee Hope, 17 Landguard Fort, aka John 1 33 100 7 70 516 516.0 Hutchison Ports UK Bradfield Viewing Area Trimley Marshes, 18 Andrew Excell, SWT 1 105 100 4 14 3008 3008.0 River Orwell Levington foreshore, Ian Angus, 19 1 11 100 1 ? 105 105.0 River Orwell Levington Parish Council foreshore, Debby Hatcher, 20 1 15 120 4 7 311 259.2 River Orwell 8th Felixstowe Scouts Ip South of , Charles Croydon, 21 1 12 100 16 28.5 514 514.0 River Orwell Transition 22 Pipers Vale, River Orwell George Seinet, local group 1 16 100 20 250 360 360.0 : West from Jo Collins, British Marine Divers 23 1 8 200 2 6.93 197 98.5 Sailing Club Pier Marine Life Rescue (BMDMLR) Stutton Ness, Chris Leach, 24 1 15 3700 7 130 32 0.9 River Stour Stutton Parish Council Grand Total 35 806 7520 225.25 780.3 14110 392.4

Alt Wa Additional Commitment In addition to the four seasonal Beachwatch surveys, many of our teams carry out beach cleaning more frequently, collecting beach litter on a monthly, weekly or even daily basis. Many local communities and individuals undertake independent beach cleans and we are very grateful to everyone for their valuable contribution in helping to look after the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB and wider marine environment.

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Missing Data Beachwatch events were also undertaken in 2017 by Saxmundham Free School. For various reasons, such as not submitting data to MCS or missing the deadline, the results from these events were unable to be included in the analysis of the Suffolk Results, but we would like to thank all of those involved for their efforts. Kessingland NB. In order for a beach clean to become an official Beachwatch survey, the event must 0 be registered with MCS, the litter collected from a 100m section must be recorded and that data must be submitted to MCS within a specified timeframe. 7 Wrentham

0

5 Minsmere Cliffs 12 Bawdsey: East Lane South 0 Southwold 5 1 River Blyth 2 5 Walberswick 0 Blythburgh 3 0 Organised by Sonya Exton, Earl Soham Organised by Lynn Allen, Suffolk Coast & Community Primary School. Photo courtesy of Heaths AONB. Earl Soham Community Primary School. Dunwich 0 14 Felixstowe: 13th hole to The Dip 4 13 Bawdsey Quay Felixstowe: Landguard 5 5 6 5

7 7 Organised by Tim Pearse, Rotary Club of Leiston 0 Felixstowe, Landguard. Photo courtesy of Organised by Barbara Zion. Organised by Mandy Button, Saxmundham Rotary Club of Felixstowe, Landguard. Photo courtesy of Barbara Zion. Free School. 0 Felixstowe: Cobbolds Point 15 Felixstowe: John Bradfield to Spa Pavilion Snape 8 17 0 Aldeburgh Viewing Area 9 5 10 0 11

Rendlesham 0 Organised by Keith Horn, The Felixstowe Society. Photo courtesy of The Felixstowe Organised by Rags Hope, Hutchison Ports UK. Orford Photo courtesy of Hutchison Ports UK. 0 Society. Woodbridge 0 Rendlesham 18 Trimley Marshes, River Orwell Forest River Ore 2 Ipswich Waldringfield 0 Hollesley 0

5 Organised by Andrew Excell, SWT, Martin 22 Bawdsey Agar, Suffolk Scouts and Steve Mitchell, BT. River Orwell 12 9 21 South of Orwell Bridge, 20 20 Nacton foreshore, River Orwell 21 River Orwell 19 13 4 Holbrook Alton Felixstowe 14 Water 15 Shotley 18 16 24 23 River Stour 17 Organised by Debby Hatcher, 8th Felixstowe Organised by Charles Croydon, Transition Scouts. Ipswich. Photo courtesy of Transition Ipswich.

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Earl Soham Primary School Wa Question: How do you get children to clean up? Answer: Take them to the beach!

hat's exactly what Earl Soham and also a chance for some den TPrimary School did in the 2017 building. With the help of MCS and Summer Term! Lynn, organisation was easy and straightforward. The only thing that The school topic for the term was 'At couldn't be planned was the weather the Seaside' and all classes had been and for that the teachers resorted to busy learning about the marine crossed fingers…! environment, both beneath the waves and along the coast. The subject When the day arrived, the pupils – extended to the eco assemblies, suitably adorned in the correct where the pupils learnt about the clothing for British summer weather, impact of litter and pollution in our t-shirts and rain coats all eventualities oceans and it was suggested that covered! – ascended the coach steps something should be done to help. full of excitement and anticipation as to what they might find on the beach! Having read an article in the Suffolk They headed to Dunwich to meet Neil Coast & Heaths AONB newspaper Lister and Alona Ochert from the about Beachwatch, we contacted AONB to talk about the seriousness Countryside Projects Officer, Lynn Allen, and impacts of plastic pollution, what who helped us to organise where, to look for and how to log it on our when and how to go about organising survey sheets. a Beachwatch event for our school. We discovered that Beachwatch is a The first group to go were Red Class. national scheme that has been In pairs, they were given a litter stick, organised by the Marine Conservation bin bag, and gloves, and were Society (MCS) for almost 25 years, and directed to the first 100m of beach to the AONB promote and co-ordinate it scour for litter. Within moments, Living in Suffolk, there is no shortage in Suffolk on their behalf. The aim is something had been found but it of coastline to choose from and it was simple – identify a 100m section of wasn’t rubbish, more like treasure in decided that Dunwich Heath – with all coast (or estuary foreshore) and collect fact, certainly for the child who it had to offer – would be a good and record all of the rubbish that you spotted it! A Neolithic arrowhead! It option. A previous visit and chat with find there between high and low water. just goes to show that you never the National Trust Wardens revealed This data is submitted to MCS and is know what you might find on the plenty of activities that the children used as evidence to fuel their anti-litter beach! The teachers recorded all litter could do whilst the classes took it in campaigns, such as banning balloon items on the Survey Sheet and turns to clean their section of beach. releases and to lobby government to needless to say, it proved to be a full Walks were planned, along with a visit change legislation, such as stopping and busy hour with plastic items being to the Education Barn to learn more manufacturers from making cotton the most frequently found – the worst about the diversity of Dunwich Heath wool bud sticks from plastic. offender being bits of plastic disposable cups.

I thought the beach had a lot of litter. I didn’t like how some people At first doing a beach clean seemed treat the environment so when you boring but when you start cleaning go to the beach make sure you it makes you think. Our planet is so take your rubbish away. Beth A beautiful and we are ruining it, so ever since I have been much more eco-friendly. Jodie 6 Beachwatch Suffolk Results 2017 SCH502 - Beachwatch report 2017 v07_artwork 07/07/2018 13:43 Page 7

Wave Goodbye to Rubbish!

I felt really pleased with myself The second 100m stretch of beach was surveyed and cleared that I was helping the environment by the children of Yellow Class. but really unhappy with the They had the unpleasant amount of litter and the distruction I loved the day out because it causes to the environment. The experience of discovering bagged it was a brilliant opportunity dog poo – unfortunately a beach is an amazing place, I common hazard on the beach and don’t want it to get turned into a to help the wildlife and I wider countryside – which was litter dump. Molly D even found a broken cleared by one of the adults, as well umbrella in the mess. Will as a broken umbrella and a length of rope along with the usual plastic suspects. Keen Kids Clean Coast Children from Earl Soham Community Over the course of the day, the Finally the older children of Earl Primary School spent a day picking up children all took part in the pick. They Soham Primary, Blue Class, got to do litter from the beach at Dunwich were helped by Alona and Neil (from their bit for the environment and Heath, Suffolk, to help tackle plastic Suffolk Coast & Heaths) who supplied armed with bags, litter pickers, pollution. them with grabbers and bin-bags to clipboards, survey forms and pencils, collect the rubbish with. they picked their way up and down Since the beginning of the Summer their 100m of beach. By the Term, the children have been focussing The school were split into their three afternoon, the wind had picked up on their topic ‘Beside the Seaside’. class groups and during the pick one of the groups collected around 2kg of and it was proving to be no easy feat In Personal, Social and Health litter, which consisted of: fishing line, controlling the bags as they took on a Education (PSHE), the children in Blue plastic bottles and wrapping, clothing, mind of their own. It soon became Class watched videos by Sky Ocean newspaper, tissues and lots of other apparent just how handy the handi- Rescue and Greenpeace, which very small pieces of plastic, which a hoops are at keeping the bags open! informed them about the issue of hungry fish could easily swallow. By the end of a highly active day the plastic in our oceans and how it children had collected and collated a affects our sea life. Overall, the children said it was a very good day and that they enjoyed trying few kg of litter, as well as gaining a Blue Class HLTA, Mrs Exton, organised to help save our sea life and doing deeper understanding of the need to the litter pick to help the children find their bit to save our oceans. be more responsible for our plastic out more about how bad plastic production and use and the impact of pollution is. By Martha Peterkin, Year 5 litter on the marine environment and wildlife. We continued the project As part of the experience, the children back in school with a display about were asked to think about how much marine litter and follow up assemblies. plastic they use in their lunchboxes and try to reduce it. I thoroughly enjoyed the beach By Sonya Exton, Higher Level clean up day even though the Teaching Assistant (HLTA) weather changed and it became quite cold. We had I felt happy fun making stone towers and I was very surprised at how much litter because I was doing spent time clearing an area of was on the beach, there was lorry loads the beach of litter. I was something for the surprised at the amount of of litter and it has inspired me to be world but also more eco-friendly. I even found dog poo, litter that was found and the disappointed there was types. It made me feel quite horrible. It was in a bag, smelly so much rubbish on emotional and I endeavour to and still warm!!!! Molly F the beach. Flora make an effort to use less It inspired me to help waste within family life. and save the environment. Karen Piper, Teaching Assistant

Bella Beachwatch Suffolk Results 2017 7 SCH502 -Beachwatchreport2017v07_artwork07/07/201813:43Page8 Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils Waveney District and Coastal Suffolk Officer, Sustainability Environmental Wargate, Deborah By Action on Plastic Waste U GET INVOLVED and water. which will simply break down in carbonalternatives such as biodegradable plastic,natural environment. They are developingand minimising plastic release into theinitiate research into preventing escapenot. Theof plastics industry can designpossible and or opt for re-useable plasticwe ifcan avoid single-use plastics whereverconsumers, we have purchasing power: Everyone has a part to play in this. As including synthetic clothes. from a wide variety of sources problems of micro-plastics that come wildlife in fishing gear to the hidden the very visible entanglement of We want to address litter issues, from acceptable level as soon as possible. that need to be reduced to an detrimental environmental impacts in many ways. However, plastic has easier, safer and and more productive Plastic has its uses. It has made life 3. 2. 1. action in three simple ways: level. We can all be part of the local plastic at a global, national and local Become a Plastic Action Champion. dispose of it responsibly. Pick litter up when we see it and recycle correctly. plastic waste and ensure we Take action in our own lives to cut our use of and dependence on rgent action is needed to address Balanced Paper by Vertas Design & Print. 01473 260600. Produced July 2018 Designed by Rolando Ugolini Creative Design 0787 949 5602. Printed on Carbon contact For more information about the work of the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) 445223 & Heaths AONB, please contact Lynn Allen, Countryside Projects Officer, For more information about becoming involved in Beachwatch in the Suffolk Coast of estuary foreshore, thereBeachwatch is plenty continues of opportunity to Thanks gainfor people to momentum the to enthusiasm, participate. in commitmentSuffolk. Withand overdetermination 76km of coast of everyone and 187km involved, , 01989 566017 [email protected] or go to www.mcsuk.org useful information available at collect sharp objects). There is lots of doing it (avoid busy roads and do not – just ensure you don’t hurt yourself You can carry out a litter pick yourself out into our streams and rivers. water drains and be washed straight the potential to enter our surface unacceptable and unsociable. It has first place. Littering in all its forms is There is no reason to drop litter in the our streets, ditches and hedgerows. It is also important to pick litter off important and we can all participate. Pick up litter. Beachwatch is vitally [email protected] monthly e-newsletter: Greenprint Forum and receive a low-plastic-waste-life, join the For tips and hints on how to live a when there are many of us doing it. does make a difference, especially our own lives at home and at work, Taking action to cut plastic waste in So what can we do as individuals? future local action. investigate the local situation and informEden (Spring/Summer 2018), to Heaths AONB Volunteer Officer, Willbeing carried out by Suffolk Coast & strategy/sources.aspx companies ( employing 170,000 people in over 6,200consumer of plastics in the world, directlyIn 2015, the UK was the 15th biggest or go to www.bpf.co.uk/plastics- www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org ). Research is . 01394 interest. more information and to express your [email protected] year of part of the Greenprint Forum’s 2018 the Plastic Action Project, and forms help our Champions. This is part of as we test and develop the tools to about plastic to groups of 20+ people, recycle’ messages. We will offer talks help you spread the ‘reduce, reuse, There will be training, visits and kits to community take positive plastic action. their organisation, school or engaging volunteers who want to help recruit at least 50 enthusiastic and Development Fund. We are looking to Heaths AONB Sustainable Partnership and the Suffolk Coast & a project funded by the East Suffolk becoming a Plastic Action Champion – Sign up to find out more about waste/litter/. pick-up, amount of litter, request a waste equipment and if there is a large as part of a group and borrow for www.keepbritaintidy.org #litterheroes. You can do it #PlasticAction. www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/ CBP00021232706185836 Please contact , search for