Life’s a Beach headed to Tynemouth Beach, near North Shields and Newcastle, for a beach clean with SCP Transport, and what a difference a team effort can make!
A fantastic 45 volunteers joined us on the beach to help tackle plastic pollution and protect our coastline. Together, the team collected an impressive 32.2 kilograms of litter, helping to leave the beach cleaner and safer for local wildlife and everyone who enjoys spending time by the sea.
Among the litter collected were nurdles, tiny plastic pellets that are used as the raw material for manufacturing plastic products. Despite their small size, nurdles can cause big problems when they enter the environment. They are easily scattered across beaches, difficult to remove from the sand and can be mistaken for food by marine wildlife.
The nurdles found during the clean are believed to be linked to a boat crash in the Port of Tyne in July 2026. Incidents like this highlight just how easily plastic can escape into our marine environment and how challenging it can be to clean up afterwards. While larger pieces of litter are often easier to spot and collect, tiny plastic pellets can spread far and wide, making them particularly difficult to remove completely.
Finding these nurdles was a reminder of why beach cleans are so important. Every piece of litter removed is one less item that can be washed back into the sea, break down into smaller pieces or pose a risk to wildlife.
A huge thank you to everyone at SCP Transport who came along, rolled up their sleeves and gave up their time to make a positive difference. With 45 volunteers working together, the team achieved a brilliant result and helped protect a much-loved stretch of coastline.
At Life’s a Beach, we believe that small actions can add up to a big impact, and this clean was a fantastic example of what can be achieved when people come together for the environment. We look forward to getting out on the beach with more brilliant teams and continuing the fight against plastic pollution!
