Weather
Chesil Beach clean-up students find 2,060 pieces of rubbish (From Dorset Echo)
When news happens get involved. Send your pictures, views and video to us by email
Chesil Beach clean-up students find 2,060 pieces of rubbish
12:00pm Tuesday 19th May 2009
STUDENTS tidying up a 100-metre stretch of Chesil Beach filled 10 sacks with 2,060 pieces of rubbish.
A car bumper, 679 pieces of rope and 213 fishing nets were among the litter collected by the marine ecology and conservation students from Kingston Maurward College, near Dorchester.
The students went to Portland to assist volunteers taking part in the 2009 Great Dorset Beach Clean and logged every piece of rubbish they found.
The students’ data is now being used by the Marine Conservation Society for their national survey of beach littering along Britain’s coastline.
And back at Kingston Maurward the students will use their results as part of their course to draw up plans locally.
They will try to examine their finds to work out how the problem can be combated and reduced.
The students also scooped up five paint rollers, Turkish cleaning fluid, a gas canister and three pieces of pottery.
Dr Laurence Stone, programme leader for the foundation degree in marine ecology and conservation, helped the project.
He said: “There was a huge amount of rubbish – 10 sacks – found along only a tiny stretch of beach.
“And it’s not just the odd bottle here and there.
“Our students are at the forefront of the battle to help the environment because their data will help analyse where this litter comes from and how it can be stopped.”
The Great Dorset Beach Clean organisers asked volunteers to clean up for its 21st year.
They were invited to join up at beaches along the Dorset coast.
More News stories
- Baby cheats death in crash at Charminster blackspot
- Parish poll lined up over West Dorset District Council move to Charles Street, Dorchester
- Dorset's big effort for Sport Relief
- Ridgeway Vikings exhibition attracts huge crowds
- Littlemoor dad 'could have died' in arson drama
- Weldmar backs 'Dying Matters' campaign
- Glastonbury stage for Billy Bragg
- Use funding for Dorset firms, says Forum of Private Business
- It's 'meet the scientist' at Thomas Hardye School
- Weymouth kidnap scare: Man chases young cyclist
THE COAST IS CLEAR: Sheren Jellis, Lynne and Brian Atkinson, Annabel Gardner of Weymouth, Melinda Fisher, Laurence Stone and Jill Thierston
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Cllr Brendan Webster, Dorset says...
1:14pm Tue 19 May 09
It would be interesting to see the results of the student’s analysis and weigh up the relative contributions from shore and the various forms of marine activity. I hope the Echo publishes the results.