The Long Wiggle: A Sea Champion's journey around the British coast

Six weeks ago Sea Champion Ben set off from Glasgow, taking his first steps in a 7000 mile journey to explore the British coastline on foot.

Raising money for the Marine Conservation Society and the John Muir Trust as he goes, Ben has set out to give back  by undertaking citizen science and voluntary work on his "long wiggle" round. 

By the time I reach Fort William I will have covered more than six hundred miles (about 1000km) on foot and by kayak.

The ratio of the two seems to be about 3:1 so far. For every mile I have paddled, I have walked about three.

Over the course of six weeks I feel I've been doing fairly well overall.

What with averaging about a hundred miles each week, and around fifteen miles each day, carrying this rucksack that doesn't seem to get any lighter, whilst picking up litter and carrying it about until I come across a bin that's usually already full, or in some cases, just dragging it way above the high tide line into a wind-proof pile; it has all left me wanting some proper rest.

Luckily, however, Oban seems to be overflowing with lovely people who were willing to look after me, put up with me, spend time with me, and feed me well, despite my ramblings and serious lack of hygiene.

Unluckily, however, I simultaneously had caught a cold of some sort from somewhere.

So I've spent most of the last few days in and around Oban in a state of weary bleary confusion.

Sometimes I wake up and wonder where on earth I am. Thankfully though, I'm usually inside the tent, and it doesn't take me long to figure it out.

The kayak, for which I have no name for yet, it is simply, the kayak, has been the star of the journey so far.

It has enabled me to learn so much more about the coast then I would have done through walking.

I've also learned more about the interplay between wind and water, as well as wind, water and rock.

The differences in wave types, directions, velocities, frequencies, depths, pitches, angles, colours and overall levels of scariness, are beyond calculation.

There was a day about a week ago where I was paddling from the bottom of the Ardfern peninsula towards Loch Melfort, along the Sound of Jura.

The tide was incoming, the wind was a westerly (so mainly on my left) and the waves had many miles of gathering space to develop into undulations of several feet or so between crest and trough. But the wind wasn't too strong so as to create white caps and sharp edges that could break over me or topple me underwards.

They tended to roll excitedly, under and around me.

Then they would bounce off the hard steep rocks of the peninsula, and start coming at me from all directions.

The result of paddling in this for about four hours, became apparent when I had packed up and started walking.

I was following the main road at this point, and quickly realised that I was swaying quite uncontrollably, and visibly, whilst trying to walk in a straight line. This led me to having huge fits of laughter, which made me sway a lot more, all while I was attempting to avoid the incoming traffic.

It was the most fun I've had in a while.

Ben's full blog is available on his website where you can also donate to his journey or the charities he has chosen to support.

A mission to protect seagrass beds in southern England

 On World Seagrass Day 2021, our Sea Champion Clare from Plymouth shares what inspires her about seagrass and why she is studying sea beds in southern England to help us understand more about this marvellous marine habitat.

My love affair with seagrass began in 2011 when I was studying a Foundation Degree in Marine Science in Falmouth, a small town in South Cornwall. As a diver since 2004, I am fascinated with understanding what is in our seas.

I started volunteering with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust who helped me get involved with the Seasearch diving project, a partnership between MCS and other organisations. This national volunteer program collects species and habitat information from all around the UK. During these dives, seeing seagrass for the first time, I realised its huge importance to human health and wellbeing.

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants, located in shallow, sheltered coastal areas down to a depth of 10 - 15 metres. Extensive meadows are formed on all continents with the exception of Antarctica, but there has been a global decrease of seagrass due to threats. These include anchoring and mooring of boats, decreasing light and water clarity and water temperature increases due to climate change.

Seagrasses provide significant functions including carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and storage, stabilising sediment underwater, and they are a spawning habitat and nursery ground for important commercial fish species. Seagrass beds in the UK are a perfect environment for a wide variety of protected species, including the short-snouted seahorse and the spiny/long snouted seahorse.

Inspired by seagrass, in 2012 I took on a project looking at the seagrass found in Fowey Harbour. A Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) survey and a Scuba Diving survey discovered that the bed seemed to be thriving, healthy and home to many different marine creatures. My project helped local community members to understand the importance of their seagrass habitats and why we should be looking after them.

To celebrate World Seagrass Day, I am sharing with you my exciting Masters research project at the University of Plymouth. My project will focus on one species of seagrass found in the UK, common eelgrass (Zostera marina). It aims to provide key information about the extent of three seagrass beds (two in Cornwall and one in the Isle of Wight). I’ll examine which species can be found at each location and will also research the laws protecting seagrass.

Coastal seas near to seagrass beds are often heavily used for swimming, kayaking, and boating. The management and restoration of damaged seagrass is essential to lessen the effect of climate change and provide a suitable habitat for marine species. I will be collaborating with the Marine Conservation Society, the Ocean Conservation Trust and Natural England to look at water uses in each of the chosen areas and to see if, together we can find ways to manage these uses so we can enjoy the sea but also allow our seagrass to grow and flourish!

I hope to get out on the water (doing ROV surveys), under the water (scuba diving) and near the water (checking out how people are using coastal seas) during late spring and summer 2021. So, I will be back with an update soon.

 

Led by Natural England in partnership with Marine Conservation Society, Ocean Conservation Trust, Plymouth City Council/Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum and Royal Yachting Association the LIFE ReMEDIES Project which has been made possible with the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union

 

 

Reflections on rubbish: cleaning up during coronavirus

In these grim coronavirus dominated days it’s easy to lose hope, bound, not just by four walls, but mentally shut-in too. It can feel a bit rubbish!

Jo Earlam, Marine Conservation Society Outstanding Achievement Award Winner 2020, reflects on the bright spots in a tumultuous year

An increase in rubbish in the countryside has been one of the impacts of lockdown life. More people out walking, eating in the open air instead of in pubs and cafes, leaving behind strewn coffee cups, discarded drinks cans and an array of plastic, crisp packets, sweet wrappers, and bottles, as well as the tell-tale signs of epidemic living, plastic gloves, and disposable face masks.

But disposing of these single use items does not mean throwing in a hedge, hurling from a car window, or casually dropping underneath benches. It means disposing of them in a bin.

Like a lot of people, I’ve become so disturbed by the increasing amount of rubbish that I’ve decided to do something positive to redress it – inspired by the Marine Conservation Society’s Litter Quest, source to sea approach to tackling litter.

This January on six separate litter picking outings, of between 30 minutes to two hours, I’ve picked up more than 10kgs of rubbish, in a radius of two miles around my village. They’re routes I walk regularly with my dog and to enjoy them, even for a short time, without litter blighting my view, I feel better.

Through social media posts of my finds, I discovered others are doing the same, including an intensive care nurse and her emergency department husband, who clear up litter on their days off from frontline NHS work.

Saving lives one day, saving the planet the next.

That’s not rubbish. That’s amazing.

Thanks Lisette and Clinton Johnston for inspiring me.

Really you are the Outstanding Achievers.

You, and the army of community litter pickers out there, who spread hope.

Already we have a local group going, the Eager Beavers, and litter pickers have been supplied by Knights Farm Shop, who’s land borders the River Otter where the beavers live.

We may not be able to change the world, but we can change our world.

 

Discovering Devon: How MCS volunteering is helping one Sea Champion and her daughter explore their local coastline

 

Sea Champion Jenny, and her daughter Islay, have been undertaking MCS volunteering activities for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award. Here Islay shares how her experiences have allowed her discover more about her local seashore.

"My name is Islay, I’ve started my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award. I’m really excited to take on new experiences and just have a bit of fun! OK, knowing me, I’d have a lot of fun!

It's all very exciting, and there are so many choices that you could make! You could get creative as well: whatever you decide to do (depending on the activity) you can make yourself a programme, which you can follow through for however long you do it. You can do anything in the programme that's fun and interesting for you! First of all you need to set it all up. For example: filling in your chosen activities, timescales, and assessors. This all takes time, and to be honest, I really wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing or not, or what I even should be doing! But it all became clear soon enough. My leader helps me out through it all - and some amazing parents to guide me! If you achieve a DofE award, it counts toward your progress and careers/jobs, and a good thing to have under your belt. If you're up for the challenge, then have fun and enjoy it! It is optional, and I promise you, it's not extra work!!

For DofE, there are 3 sections: Volunteering, Physical, and Skills (there’s also Expedition, but the leader sorts that one out – you go out with a group of friends for at least two days and one night). For my volunteering section, I have chosen to volunteer for the Marine Conservation Society. There are various things that I have considered – doing the Big Seaweed Search, joining in with litter picking events, organizing litter picking events, or even just litter picking on my own (with family). Whether I either organize an event or just do it on my own, I’ll follow the litter survey and that way I can track my progress. This also means that I’m learning about it and thinking about it more in depth. When I do the Big Seaweed Search or go out litter picking, I go to local beaches where I live in south Devon. This is also good because I am learning even more about my local beaches. 

I care about the Marine Conservation Society – recently my mum joined one of their litter picking events whilst my dad, brother and I were litter picking at the other end of the beach. We also got to join in with them a little bit! Then when it came to my DofE choices, I was deciding what to do for my Volunteering activity.  I’m interested in marine biology and I want to take that as an idea for my career path. So overall I thought, well then maybe I should volunteer for the Marine Conservation Society! And it was a great choice! It allows me to learn more about my local environment and care for marine wildlife. I want to help as much as I can with the Marine Conservation Society and my local marine environment.

I want to make a change to the world – I want to help to stop global warming and climate crises and to help the sea. I love the sea! It’s the best thing in the world for me. My family say that I’m a mermaid! I love swimming in the sea and snorkelling is the best! I appreciate the wide diversity of aquatic life and what it means to our world. If we don’t take care of everything we will lose all the immense beauty of the sea. The sea gives us half of our oxygen to breathe for starters. And the plastic pollution is preventing that from happening. So we’re basically just causing ourselves all sorts of huge problems.

That’s why I’m volunteering for the Marine Conservation Society. It’s a start, and I’m looking forward to helping out with anything, and everything! For my Skills section of DofE I’m doing marine biology – I go rock-pooling and see what animals I can find (sea-snails, hermit crabs, starfish, etc). So far my most exciting find has been a group of starfish (Cushion Stars) ­– seen in the wild for the first time in my life! This is how great DofE can be! I have begun to create  fact sheets about all of the different rockpool creatures I find. This is a great learning curve for me.

I believe I have made good progress so far and I’m only in the first few weeks of my Bronze DofE. I’ve joined in the Big Seaweed Search and I’ve also gone litter picking with my family – my friend is doing beach cleans as well for her DofE so we might organize a big beach clean together. I’m really excited to carry on, and to experience the adventure that lies ahead. Watch this space for my updates!"

 

Sea Champion attends international conference in Malaysia

This month is our Plastic Challenge at MCS and Sea Champion, Nathan, shares with us his experience of attending a conference in Malaysia on 'Plastic Solutions'. Also, read on to find out more about a film screening of "The Story of Plastic".

What is the priority today? How will you decide? For me, I must write this article, because there is an opportunity, a deadline, and as you will see, two important lessons to share with you which changed the way I think and concern you, me, and our friends and families. Simply, today I will write.

My name is Nathan, I am a Sea Champion in Scotland, and was invited to write about my experiences at a major international conference in Malaysia last year. For 2000 conservation professionals and students in Kuala Lumpur city, a full day of presentations, workshops and symposia were organised on the theme, ‘Plastics Solutions.’ Beach cleans were my way into the world of plastic, and now living in Asia, before getting onto solutions, I have been asked to share a quick global perspective...

Everyone can find single-use plastics. But how easily can we find alternatives? In the UK, the Plastic Challenge in July nudged me to search for food without plastic packaging, experiment with homemade toothpaste, and ditch plastic bottles and bags. I left Scotland and moved to China in 2017, where buying food loose by weight is common practice, so I can avoid the stream of plastic bags by simply using reusables. And then last July was the six-day rail and road journey to the conference through Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, where a lunchbox, a pair of chopsticks and water bottle were trusty travel items for picking up (delicious!) food en-route from willing street food merchants and restaurants.

The Monday morning in Malaysia with deep ocean explorer, Fabien Cousteau, was brilliant! In his opening session, ‘What’s good for the environment is good for business’, he shared his adventures and love of the ocean, celebrated innovation, opportunities and strength of young people, and raised the need for making bold decisions. The end of that day had a profound effect on me – an evening of cinema with Craig Leeson, director of ‘A Plastic Ocean’, referred to by Sir David Attenborough as “one of the most important films of our time.” Effects of plastics on wildlife and wild places were deep in my conscious, but plastic as a global threat to public health…?

[Lesson 1] Plastic has significant risks to human health throughout its lifecycle. Toxic chemicals associated with plastic are many. At least 175 known hazardous chemicals are used in food packaging in the EU, and chemicals can shed into food as plastic degrades in contact with light, heat and food. Extraction of the initial fossil fuels and incineration of plastic waste releases toxic substances into the air and water. We know these chemicals are associated with cancer, brain health, child development, and reproductive, respiratory and immune system function.

[Lesson 2] If we classify plastic waste as hazardous, it could be easier to legislate. Beyond this article, I draw on two cases you might know? i) Hormones in meat – substances used for growth promotion in farm animals are prohibited in the EU, on the evidence of tumours in humans. ii) Breast-milk substitutes – recognising the importance of breastfeeding for the health of mothers and infants, the World Health Organisation recommends that there should be an international code on the marketing of infant formula and other substitutes. In both cases we see big industries, global players, and the driving forces of public health interests influencing policies, markets and consumption. Any other examples?

Just weeks into my COVID-19 lockdown experience, in February these lessons were clearer than ever. With no other option than online shopping, my power to choose unpackaged food was gone, delivered instead in bags within bags. I remembered contesting with a good friend in 2016 whether behaviour change or policy had greater effect on changing plastic use. We recognised the huge win of the plastic bag levy, though I held on to the power of the ‘conscious consumer’. Now, however, we all bear witness to the speed and scale at which an all-of-government response can change the ‘normal’ (note, on the basis of public health).

The views are personal to the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Marine Conservation Society.

The Big Seaweed Search - helping out during lockdown

Here at MCS, we really appreciate all the help and support that our volunteers can give us. This year has been a bit different, but there are still ways that volunteers can help support our work. Sea Champion Sally tells us how she has been involved with validating data for the Big Seaweed Search.

Hi there! I’m Sally, a Sea Champion, (fair-weather) Seasearch diver and a marine biology placement year student working with the Marine Conservation Society and the Natural History Museum for the Big Seaweed Search project. (Yes, that is my seaweed-ing suit for anyone who’s wondering!)

So, a bit of background to me and why I get to tell you about the Big Seaweed Search. I became a member of the MCS in 2017 having spoken to volunteers at their stand at the ExCel dive show, but I only really got involved with MCS when I got to Plymouth University. There I met lots of brilliant and likeminded people, whereby I got roped in (in a good way) to become a Seasearch diver, something I had wanted to get into as soon as I moved down to the coast!

It was around that time that I met up with Jules, the (brilliant) Sea Champion coordinator for the South West, as she was recruiting Sea Champions to work with the University. As we were talking she mentioned the Big Seaweed Search project, something I hadn’t heard about before. Although not my primary focus of studies, seaweed is immensely interesting (well to me at least!), so I asked if there was anything I could do to get involved. Yes, was the short answer!

Jules set up a dialog between me and (the wonderful) Professor Juliet Brodie, who pretty much runs the project, to discuss what I could do to help out with it. Turns out they were looking for someone to volunteer and do some data analysis of the collected data from the past four years. To me this sounded like the perfect placement opportunity during this pandemic and a great way to improve my data skills, so I asked if I would be suitable? Well, I must have said something right as I’m now on the team and doing my placement with them!

“But Sally,” I hear you ask. “What is the Big Seaweed Search and how can I get involved?” The Big Seaweed Search is a citizen science project, so it relies on citizen scientists (that’s you!) to go out to the coast and take a survey of the seaweed that’s there. All the information can be found on the BSS website (http://bigseaweedsearch.org/), including a guide for how to run your survey, what 14 species of seaweed you will be looking out for and how to identify them. There’s also a printable recording form, so you don’t have to memorise every species you see.

My job now is to look through all the past surveys that have been done, making sure that the data entries are correct by verifying photos that are sent in with the survey. Then analysing the data against three environmental changes: sea temperature rise, ocean acidification and the spread of non-native species, to see if they are having an impact on our seaweed habitats.

This analysis will hopefully garner some interesting results that we hope will be able to be published in a paper. It will be a great show for all the hard work the surveyors have put into the project already!

If you’re a Sea Champion already, in the July E-Bulletin for the South West there’s an article about News, Feedback and a Data Request for the BSS, asking that if you have taken part in a survey before, check that you uploaded your photos, as this is the only way we (…well I) can verify the seaweeds that you’ve recorded!

If you’re now just really eager to get out to your local beach and do some citizen science (which I hope you are!), then all you need to do is go onto the Big Seaweed Search website (http://bigseaweedsearch.org/), download (and print) the guide and recording form, grab a pencil and your camera and/or smartphone, get down to the beach and have fun!

Happy recording everyone!

Beach cleans: "It's not just about plastic"

With the UK in lockdown, getting out and about is difficult. Especially if you have a fondness for our beaches. At MCS, we are looking at ways that our amazing volunteers can still contribute to our work, whilst looking after their wellbeing at this time. Today we thought we'd share volunteer, Sarah's, account of a beach clean and why it's not just about the plastic you can find.

"It's not just about plastic".

These few words, spoken by the Marine Conservation Society’s passionate Public Engagement Officer, Alisdair, are the perfect way to summarise the morning we have just spent on Littlehampton’s windy beach. People of all ages and all walks of life, from groups of friends and colleagues to couples and families, have gathered here to volunteer as part of MCS’ Great British Beach Clean.

The sun is shining, and despite the strong breeze, it’s not too cold. The deep blue sea seems miles away, as the low tide reveals endless expanses of beige sand. If I look down, I can still see the footsteps of early morning dog walkers and the pawprints of their faithful companions. Every hundred meters or so, dark wooden groynes lead the eye back towards the blue horizon. Hungry seagulls are flying above looking for breakfast.

Towards the top of the beach, the sand gradually gives way to millions of grey, beige and white pebbles. This is where our group is now huddled, awaiting instructions.

Struggling slightly to be heard over the screeching seagulls and the gusts of wind, Littlehampton Great Beach Clean organiser, Kate Whitton, gives us a brief background of the charity and the overview of the day. Her enthusiasm is contagious and already, we can’t wait to get going.

First, we are to perform a survey. Across a 100-metre-long strip of beach, we will pick and record every bit of litter we find. Armed with picking sticks, clipboards and garden bags, we spread across the survey area. Some of us disappear towards the low tide, where the small waves break gently against the wet sand. Others choose the area near the promenade and search among the dry pebbles. All of us are hunched and focused. I pause and wonder what we must look like to passers-by.

In less than an hour, we collectively pick 2.5kgs of plastic, glass and other household items – when you remember how light plastic is, this is actually a huge amount, and given that the council cleaned the beach this very morning, even more alarming.

For the next hour, we spread further and pick as much litter as we possibly can. When the time comes to weigh the litter again, it has increased by a further 11kgs.

By cleaning this beach, we will help marine life: fish, crabs, sea snails, barnacles and mussels will thrive in a healthier sea. But we will also help our fellow human beings, who would eventually be eating plastic themselves, as it sadly makes its way up the food chain.

But as Alisdair so rightly said, it’s not just about the plastic…



It’s about enjoying a sunny morning on the beach!

I grew up in the south of France, but I have lived in the UK long enough now to understand weather pessimism. “I bet it’s going to rain!” we say whenever we are planning outdoors activities. But today, it’s a warm late-summer sun greeting us as we set off on our litter picking mission. Only a few white clouds blemish the bright blue sky.

A strong breeze cools the air, bringing with it the smell of seaweed and suddenly, I am taken back to the times when, as a child, I used to visit my British grandmother, only a few kilometres from here. She would take me for walks along Worthing’s promenade then buy me an ice cream – I always thought it was a strange choice of snack for what I thought were such cold days.

I came back years later with my first love. We would spend hours stacking pebbles, looking for crabs, throwing ricochets and spotting worm holes.

Walking on the sand with him, hands held tight and eyes blind with love, I guess I missed the fishing lines, beer cans, plastic sheets and broken glass which, even then, spoiled our precious shores. This time, I am intently looking for them, but this memory nonetheless leaves me with a feeling of nostalgic happiness.



It’s about the people you meet!

I joined this project on my own but as has often happened when volunteering solo in the past, I initially felt a slight apprehension. I picture myself picking litter on my own, while around me, groups of friends, colleagues and families laugh together; I have to remind myself that I was not here to make friends, but here to help make the world a better place. Of course, what I find each time I volunteer, is that I always end up meeting cool people alongside saving the planet and that these two things often go hand in hand.

Apprehension subsides soon enough, when people in marine blue shirts – the organisers – smile at me as they scurry around looking for bits and completing last-minute tasks. They’re now ready to welcome us and check us in. Within minutes, I am in conversation with them and other volunteers.

When the activity kicks in, it doesn’t take long for us all to mingle, swap picking techniques and compete about which one of us has found the weirdest or most unlikely item. We talk about our lives and jobs and agree on how lucky we are to be here, under the Friday morning sun, when most of our colleagues are stuck under the bright neon of an open plan office, listening to the hum of the air conditioning and the screech of the printer, instead of the wind and the seagulls.

It’s about learning!

If asked to list the items I would expect to find washing up on the shores of our precious beaches, plastic would have been my first answer. I wouldn’t have suggested half of the items we found this morning: exploded fireworks, children toys, sanitary products or medical devices. Of all the items we collected, the largest proportion came from our homes or our picnics, but the fishing and shipping industries are also highly responsible for damaging our coasts.

But it’s not just litter we find on the beach and as the morning progresses, the MCS team, always full of smiles and gratitude, share with us their knowledge about the creatures of the sea. We learn that mussels cleanse the sea by filtering microplastics and other pollutants, how barnacles adapt to increasingly difficult conditions, and how some algae fill little pockets with air in order to rise to the

surface of the sea to catch some sun rays for photosynthesis. I also find my first mermaid’s purse, from which a shark fish must once have emerged, a tiny but entirely formed creature, before escaping into the sea.

Of course, we also learn about the great work conducted everyday by the MCS, the importance of the survey we have just performed, and how volunteers can support even further!



It’s about doing something worthwhile!

I am aware that this small strip of beach we have cleared this morning is not going to stop all the pollution, reverse all the effects of global warming or indeed stop marine life getting entangled. But together, the 100 or so of us may have saved the lives of 100 fish, 100 mussels, 100 limpets, or 100 other creatures. We have also given each other strength and hope, feeding off each other’s enthusiasm and love for our planet. And together with all the other beach cleaners around the country – and hopefully around the world – we have had an even greater impact.

After having had so much fun, we will share our experiences with our colleagues and friends and hopefully inspire them to take part next year.


It’s sometimes easy to feel we are entering the post-apocalyptic world of a dystopian movie. The world is waking up to the climate crisis and that of plastic pollution. With this awakening can come worry and “doom and gloom” as they call it over here. I think this may cause paralysis. I strongly believe that we can do something about it and by making volunteering fun, we can unite to make the planet a better place for us and future generations.

Today, huge climate strikes are happening around the world. There is one in Brighton, which has just started. And after a relaxing time volunteering in the sun, I am off to join the fight.

So, a day at the beach or a day saving the planet? How about both?

If you would like to suggest ways for volunteers to continue being involved in our work whilst we are in lockdown, then please send your ideas to seachampions@mcsuk.org, adding "Volunteer Ideas" into the subject heading.