Big team beach clean makes waves for wildlife

A team of willing volunteers rolled up their sleeves for Durham Wildlife Trust’s Big Team Beach Clean at Crimdon, joining forces to tackle coastal litter and protect the stunning Durham Heritage Coast.

More than 50 people joined Durham Wildlife Trust for a large‑scale beach clean at Crimdon on Thursday, 3 September, bringing together Trust staff, volunteers, and partner organisations for a collective effort to tackle coastal litter.

Working across the beach and dunes, the team gathered waste left behind over the busy summer months. In just two hours, volunteers collected more than 35 bags of rubbish. Among the more unusual items found were a tyre, fishing wire, a section of carpet, and even part of a conveyor belt once used by one of the area’s coastal collieries.

A group of volunteers walk down a sandy path between grassy dunes toward the beach, carrying blue litter bags and pickers for a cleanup. The sea stretches out ahead under a cloudy sky, and participants wear outdoor clothing and backpacks, ready to collect rubbish along the shore.

Nurdles from a spill at the Port of Tyne were also spotted in the sand. These tiny pellets, often measuring just 3-5mm, can be mistaken for food by seabirds and marine wildlife, potentially causing harm and introducing pollutants into the food chain. Several members of the group spent time picking these up by hand, collecting hundreds of the small plastic pellets in the process.

Four volunteers crouch on a sandy beach collecting litter, while another stands nearby observing. They wear gloves and outdoor clothing, using blue bags for rubbish. The sea and a long pier stretch into the distance under a cloudy sky, highlighting the group’s coastal cleanup efforts.

The clean‑up coincided with Durham County Council’s launch of the ‘Big Autumn Clean’, a campaign encouraging residents, schools, community groups, and businesses to take part in litter‑picking activities in their local areas.

Caitlin Elwin, Volunteering Officer at Durham Wildlife Trust, said: “It was humbling to see so many people come together to help care for the stunning Durham Heritage Coastline.

"Over the past five years, more than 16,000 hours contributed by volunteers have supported our regular beach cleans, collecting an incredible 9,439 bags of litter. Every item removed helps prevent waste from entering the sea, protecting our precious coastal habitats and the wildlife that depends on them. I want to thank everyone who joined this event – and all those who have taken part in previous clean‑ups. Your support genuinely makes a difference to our local environment.”

Durham Wildlife Trust runs regular beach cleans along the North East coast. To get involved or book onto an upcoming event, click the link below:

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