Our Marine Pollution Heroes

However, Yorkshire’s shores are now hosting a different – and greener – group of devotees out to make a change. From record-breaking water temperature highs in June, pollutants from plastics to chemicals entering our seas and previously-unsustainable exploitation of resources, our shores are in need of help - and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s true heroes are an army of volunteers.

To celebrate the brilliant work they do, we wanted to shine a spotlight on our Marine Pollution Programme volunteers, who focus on tackling pollutants entering our seas including plastics, oil and chemicals.

Waves of Waste Coordinators

Our Waves of Waste Coordinators deliver beach clean events at various sites along the Yorkshire coast on our behalf. Our staff can’t be everywhere all at once, so these volunteers enable us to cover more locations and pick up more litter.

In 2022 these volunteers:

Delivered over 40 beach cleans across 6 coastal sites, from Flamborough to Spurn Point

Litter-picked 24 miles of the Yorkshire coast

Removed a staggering 211 bags of litter

Worked with over 700 people

Everyone is welcome to join these events, you can book online via www.ywt.org.uk/beach-cleans

Three women stood facing the camera on a beach with litter picking bags

Waves of Waste Surveyors

Understanding of the extent of the litter and plastics issue is a global challenge, and we still don’t fully understand how it gets into our rivers and seas – vital information needed to work out how to tackle the issue.

Our Waves of Waste Surveyors study litter along the Yorkshire coast, using the information they gather to identify and target hotspots and potential sources, and explain and encourage behaviour change in local communities and businesses.

Often the litter they have found is instantly recognisable; during their surveys the group have found a crisp packet from the 1970s and a 20 year old Nokia phone case!

In 2022 these volunteers:

Carried out a whopping 104 surveys

Covered 26 miles of the Yorkshire coast

Removed 114 bags of litter

Spent 139 hours surveying

Marine pollution - Nokia phone case washed up on beach during litter pick

Shoresearch Surveyors

Shoresearch is The Wildlife Trusts' national citizen science survey of the intertidal shore, the exciting world of extremes where the sea meets the land.

Volunteers identify and record wildlife on Yorkshire shores, and the data collected by this project helps experts to monitor our fragile sea life and better understand the effects of pollution, climate change and invasive species.

Our team of Shoresearch Surveyors help us to carry out surveys at Flamborough South Landing, Filey Brigg and Runswick Bay.

Data from our Shoresearch surveyors has also been the key to designating many Marine Conservation Zones – the nature reserves of the sea.

Environmental Incident Volunteers

Over the summer months, over 300,000 internationally important seabirds breed along the Yorkshire coastline. Below the cliffs, seals, whales, dolphins and a myriad of other species call our seas home. Over the past few years, we have seen a number of small-scale environmental incidents which could threaten this area and the important species that can be found here, from man-made pollution to stormy seas causing seabird and shellfish 'wash-ups'.

A partnership of organisations including Yorkshire Wildlife Trust came together to develop a plan for responding to such incidents in an effective, rapid and safe way. Our Environmental Incident volunteers can be called on in an emergency to be our ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground. This might include surveying beaches for affected wildlife, helping to set up a base with the RSPCA, or any other tasks which we need extra help with.

Yorkshire’s seas need our help – but with the help of some incredible people, we’re already starting to turn the tide. These different volunteers are just a selection of the wide-ranging roles we have here at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

If you are interested in getting involved, go to:

Volunteer| YWT