Join the dream team on a beach clean

University of Sussex student and volunteer writer MICHAELA LAMB describes the blustery Sunday afternoon when she and fellow students joined a beach clean in Eastbourne to help preserve the town’s iconic beaches – you can join the next event on Sunday (June 14) by the Beach Deck cafe from 2pm

Members of Plastic Free Eastbourne have been working hard since January 2018 to keep the town’s beaches clean and safe so that we can enjoy them for years to come. 

They meet monthly to clean a stretch of shoreline. This brings the community together because everyone who takes part has, to some extent, a passion for the environment. 

My classmates and I joined one of these beach cleans to further understand how Plastic Free Eastbourne (PFE) keeps morale high and the environment protected. 

We were curious to find out why these sorts of actions are important and we also wanted to help look after the town’s iconic coastline. 

What do the beach cleans entail? 

We caught the train from Brighton to Eastbourne, eager for the challenge that lay ahead of us and excited to meet others who shared a care for the environment.  

We met Oliver Sterno, PFE community leader, and Chris Mason, one of the group’s directors, at a beach near Eastbourne’s Sovereign Harbour. Both were extremely helpful in guiding us on what to do and why it’s so important to care for our environment. 

Chris gave us our beach cleaning equipment and explained how to use it. We were given gloves, a litter picker to grab rubbish and a bag with a hoop to keep the top open against the strong wind.

We learned how anglers often leave fishing lines behind on the beach. Chris pointed out black, tube-like bins on the promenade where fishermen are encouraged to dispose of their unwanted lines, but he said they don’t always use them. As a result, the lines break down into micro plastics and cause problems for wildlife, Chris explained.  

We initially felt as though we hadn’t collected a lot of rubbish, but Chris reassured us that what we did collect would also have become micro plastics, so every little bit collected helps. 

Why are actions like this important to the community? 

A big feature of these events is the strong community they help build. We spoke to a few dedicated members of the team cleaning the beach; one lady told us that the beaches “are getting better because more people are joining in”, which was inspiring to hear. 

Our goal now is to get even more people involved. 

Activities like beach cleans provide people with a space to do something fulfilling, which in turn can make you feel good: my fellow students and I quickly felt the sense of satisfaction that comes with doing something positive for the community.

It is apparent that there is a deep care for the community of Eastbourne among its residents. The team that day showed how the need for awareness about the environment stirs up a collective passion.  

“I do it regularly,” one participant told us. “I live near the beach and I just pick things up as I see them.” 

PFE works with other environmental groups like Surfers Against Sewage to create the biggest possible impact on the environment. For example, it organises mass swims and a Spring Water Festival to celebrate the town.  

“Let’s spread some joy!” said Chris. 

Why aren’t more younger people getting involved? 

There could be a multitude of reasons for this. One resident told us that his kids were hesitant to join the beach clean because of windy weather. This can easily be overcome: my classmates and I were wrapped up well and I’d suggest other young people do the same so you can join in. 

Another member of the team felt young people may be less informed. I don’t necessarily agree with this: I would argue that members of 'Gen Z' [mid-teens to late 20s] are well informed about the environment but don’t know all the routes they can take to help out.  

Therefore, it is important that those of us who are aware of organisations like PFE speak out and spread the word! 

That is a big reason why I’m writing this article; to inform all generations but hopefully to relate to and encourage younger people to join in. 

Find out more about Plastic Free Eastbourne on their website, Instagram and Facebook. Or call 07971 909454.

:: Many thanks to media students at the University of Sussex for collaborating with our independent non-profit news website for this feature. You can support the Eastbourne Reporter, largely run by volunteers, with a regular donation or a one-off payment for any amount. Your help is vital in paying the bills and also paying experienced journalists to write for us and edit. Thank you!