Contents
Action, discussion, workshops – Hastings 3rd & 17th February- with Strandliners, Transition Town Hastings & Wonderfill.
#BeyondTheBeachClean.Future events – Bexhill, River Rother – Marine Conservation Society surveys.
Workshops – Bexhill, with Clean Seas Please, identification, surveys, sewage related debris (the unflushables).
Single use plastic Government consultation – PLEASE respond to this consultation (Deadline Feb 12th)
Recording – Transatlantic plastic tags.
Past events – Bexhill, Marine Conservation Society surveys.
Welcome to the February News Sheet
There’s so much happening that I will be brief! Thank you to everyone who supports Strandliners in many different ways, without you we would not be here.Please pass this news sheet on to anyone who may be interested, and if you are able, you can become a member. Any other questions, please email me at strandlinerscic@gmail.com.
Andy Dinsdale
Beyond the Beach Clean
Plastic is cheap, cheerful and very convenient – and it’s also made from fossil fuels and threatening the health of every living thing on the planet.
You’re invited to take part in series of ‘long-game’ conversations about our problems with plastic, hosted by Strandliners, Wonderfill and Transition Town Hastings.
Thursday, 3 February and Thursday, 17 February
7-9pm in The Common Room
27-29 Cambridge Road, Hastings (across from ESK)
No booking required
The series will start on Thursday, 3 February at 7pm with us coming together to hear how local thought-leaders see the nature of the challenge.
They’ll set out their stalls (literally and figuratively!) and, hopefully, pose a few provocative questions.
Global challenge, local solutions
Between our 3rd and 17th February conversations, we are planning a community-viewing permission for the feature-length film, The Story of Plastic, watch out for the email invite in the next week.
Then we will reconvene again on the 17th to share our thoughts and impressions, and use our collective wisdom and impact, to begin the ‘long game’ of changing our behaviour and phasing out the use of plastics.
We look forward to starting the conversation with you!
Future Events
We still need to be aware of COVID guidelines so events can still change.
Bexhill, Marine Conservation Society Beach Clean & Survey
Galley Hill
10am to 12noon, Saturday 26th February
This is Clean Seas Please event for the Marine Conservation Society. Venue to be confirmed, Bexhill. Please email strandlinersevents@gmail.com to book a place.
Bexhill, Marine Conservation Society Beach Clean & Survey
De La Warr (The Colonnade)
2pm to 4pm, Saturday 26th March
This is Clean Seas Please event for the Marine Conservation Society. Venue to be confirmed, Bexhill. Please email strandlinersevents@gmail.com to book a place.
Rye, River Rother “Source to Sea” Marine Conservation Society Survey
10am to 2pm, Sunday 6th February
Join us for either 2 or 4 hours (arrive at 10am or 12noon) for this new Marine Conservation Society event. Please email strandlinersevents@gmail.com to book a place.
Rye, River Rother “Source to Sea” Marine Conservation Society Survey
10am to 2pm, Sunday 13th February
Join us for either 2 or 4 hours(arrive at 10am or 12noon) for this new Marine Conservation Society event. Please email strandlinersevents@gmail.com to book a place.
If anyone has already registered/booked for any of these events, there’s no need to register again.
Bexhill Workshops to learn about Plastic Pollution
Do you use the sea or visit the beach often?
Can we tell if the sea is clean?
Free Workshops – Looking at: Identification, recording, mismanaged waste (litter!), sewage related issues (the unflushables!). Below is a choice of dates:
Friday 25th February, 7pm to 9pm
Saturday 26th March, 10am to 12noon
Bexhill – Friends Meeting House, Albert Road.
Please email strandlinerscic@gmail.com to register.
Come along to one of these sessions and then join us on one of our beach surveys (dates above).If anyone has already registered for any of these events, there’s no need to register again.
Single Use Plastic Consultation
Let the Government know how you feel!
The Government has asked for responses for proposals on commonly littered single-use plastic items in England.
PLEASE take some time to respond, here is the Government link but it is complicated and time consuming.
Alternatively City to Sea have teamed up with 38 Degrees to develop this short guide to help with an easier response, then follow the “yes I will fill out the short survey” to have your say.
The closing date is 12th February.
Please use your own individual experiences.
Strandliners is responding as an organisation.
All Records Needed
Have you ever found a piece of transatlantic plastic on the beach?
Or do you know of anyone who has on the coast of East & West Sussex and Kent?
These are lobster trap tags from the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. & Canada. They are used as fishing licences for every fishing person and renewed every year (recent changes suggest some multi year use is now in operation).The letters and numbers can be deciphered to show where & when they have been used.
ME = Maine, MA = Massechussetts, RI = Rhode Island, C = Connecticut, D = Delaware, M = Maryland, NH = New Hampshire, NFLD = Newfoundland
etc
These travel on transatlantic currents to find their way to our shores – the same as sea beans.We need information including, if possible…
What it is? (does it need identifying?),
Any photo available?
Location, where found (nearest town, beach/riverbank, lower beach, strandline or back of beach)
Date (day or season and year)
Size (width X height)
Please email strandlinersrecordings@gmail.com with any records, historic included, of these special treasures.
Past Events
Bexhill, Marine Conservation Society Beach Clean & Survey
Beaulieu Beach – Sunday 23rd January
Thank you to everyone who made it to the CleanSeasPlease event at Beaulieu Beach.
Fantastic forensic effort, amazing people.
The beach looked clean but nearly 400 pieces of pollution were removed in the 100m survey stretch. These were identified & recorded for theMarineConservationSociety national survey.
And 92% (by number) was plastic! Are we turning the corner with mismanaged plastic waste? It is very forensic but the data gained enables larger organisations to help lobby for change.
Working back to source 40% was public waste and 35% fishing industry waste (by number).
Here is a snap shot of the cover from the latest membership magazine The Fulmar, which goes out quarterly to all our members.
It is time for membership renewals, look out for an email shortly.
Thank you to all who are supporting Strandliners through membership.
Strandliners is very grateful for the funding of survey and safety equipment by Rother District Council, The Sussex Community Foundation through the The Rye Fund and Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm for the use by volunteers at our events. We have also produced safety leaflets to ensure the participants can keep safe whilst clearing. And we are also now able to attend conferences and exhibitions with our new marketing materials and display equipment.
Without this support is would have been difficult to keep the vital work continuing, raising awareness, educating and supporting other organisations with the data needed to help lobby for change and a less polluted environment.
Strandliners also received support from Fairlight Parish Council in their operations to help clear the area at Fairlight Cove with the help of the local community and Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat. A presentation is being prepared for all involved!