We’re back with the University of Bristol Biology Department at Northam Burrows/Westward Ho! Beach in Devon. Our fourth annual beach clean with the department and we kept up with our trend of collecting more litter than the previous year!
With Storm Amy just a few days before, and a full moon the day of, it was clear the tide had been very choppy, with lots washed up!
These first-year undergraduate students are only at the beginning of their course but were already fired up to head out and make a difference! Working in groups, they covered eight 100m transects along the beach. By dividing up the beach into these sections, it allowed them to accurately record their findings.
The students used data sheets from the Marine Conservation Society to record each item collected. Among the litter were 7 shoes, a tyre, a pair of goggles, tennis balls, computer parts and even a bottle of salad cream!
Working in teams, the students got stuck in, not only searching the beach, but moving pebbles to uncover trapped/buried litter and plastic. The students were also on the lookout for Shark Egg Casings! One group in particular saved a jellyfish which had been washed up during high tide – great work!
After two hours the students gathered back to collate all their data, and weigh all the litter! The total volume of rubbish filled 16 black bags and weighed in at 57.47 kilograms, 15.18 kilograms more than last year!
Another great event with UoB, we’re already looking forward to cleanup number 5 next year!
