Hamworthy team helps remove more than 1,200 pieces of litter from Bournemouth Beach.
On 19 June, a team of Hamworthy employees swapped desks for litter pickers as they joined the Marine Conservation Society for a beach clean-up on Bournemouth seafront.
The event brought together colleagues from across the business for a morning focused on protecting the local marine environment and supporting one of the UK's leading marine conservation charities.
A small stretch of beach, a big result.
Working alongside the Marine Conservation Society, the day started with volunteers surveying and cleaning a 100-metre section of Bournemouth Beach, west of the pier.
The haul highlighted just how much litter can accumulate in a relatively small area. In total we removed 1,243 items of litter, with a total weight of 7.5kg. The Marine Conservation Society provided valuable data on the types and likely sources of litter found. Unsurprisingly, Plastic and polystyrene accounted for the vast majority of items collected, reflecting the continued challenge posed by plastic pollution along coastlines.
When categorised by source, most items were linked to public littering and recreational beach use, while a significant proportion was associated with fishing-related activities. Smaller quantities were linked to shipping, fly-tipping and sewage-related debris.
The findings reinforce why beach cleans are about more than simply removing waste. The data collected helps the Marine Conservation Society track pollution trends and build evidence that supports wider action to reduce marine litter.
Protecting the marine environment, locally and globally.
For Hamworthy employees, the event was a practical way to contribute to the health of the local coastline while spending time together outside the workplace.
