A small team of Challenge Wales shore-side volunteers, armed with litter-pickers and a passion for the environment, recently took part in the Severn Estuary Spring Clean.
The aim of the campaign, co-ordinated by Severn Estuary Partnership is to help reduce the flow of litter into the sea.
The Challenge Wales charity is passionate about sustainability and one of its programmes focuses on microplastics in Cardiff Bay; raising awareness of this growing issue. These small plastic fragments, along with larger debris, travel down from the valleys via the rivers, accumulating in Cardiff Bay, before heading out into the Bristol Channel and out to sea. However, these plastics pose a danger to wildlife and risk entering the food chain.
The team tackled a small waterside area in Cardiff Bay, yet even within this limited space, the extent of the plastic waste was eye-opening. One first-time volunteer was shocked by the sheer volume of microplastics and rubbish underfoot highlighting how prevalent the issue had become.
Beyond clean-ups Challenge Wales shore-side programme ‘Sea and Tell’ uses structured sessions to introduce environmental issues, ocean literacy and STEM subjects & marine careers to young people and can be seen as a stepping stone into its sail training programme or be used as a stand alone activity. With each session looking at microplastics and man-made debris in Cardiff Bay.
If you are interested in finding out more about the shore side ‘Sea and Tell’ programme Challenge Wales runs in addition to its sail training programme then please visit the website or contact the Challenge Wales team.
Currently, sessions are available thanks to funding by Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme (administered by WCVA).
