Whether you’re having a picnic or simply enjoying the beach, lake, or river – the litter that’s left behind can be damaging to the environment. Not only does it make our public spaces look untidy, but it also ends up being washed away through drains or sewers which lead to our lakes, oceans and seas. Plastics or other non-biodegradable materials can seep into our waters where they’ll stay for centuries to come, leaving behind harmful pollutants and damaging populations and habitats as they go.

Taking part in beach cleaning is incredibly important because of how often our sea creatures are affected by litter on the shores. Plastic bags can easily be mistaken as tasty jellyfish by sea turtles, while other sea creatures can become trapped or injured at the hands of our litter. You can help protect marine life by doing something as simple as picking up rubbish – wherever you are.