A planet-loving family has picked up a whopping two and a half tons of plastic litter from beaches around their Highland home this year.
The Pringles - parents Geoff and Rachel, 15-year-old son Finlay and daughter Ella, 13 - removed an incredible 2,400kg from 16 Scots beaches in 2022. The family started their journey around the north-west Highlands gathering litter around their home in Ullapool, Wester Ross.
Their final beach clean of the year was in Scouriemore, Sutherland, some 40 miles further north. Posting on social media, Finlay said: "Many thanks who those who have supported and joined in with our activities this year, particularly volunteers who turned out for our Marine Conservation Society #BigBritishBeachClean challenges at Balchladich and Stoer.
"The total amount of plastic pollution and rubbish removed for the year was 2400kg - well 2399kg to be exact! Not too bad for a family of two adults and two children."
The teen is one of Scotland’s leading youth eco activists - and has been involved since 2018 in the Greta Thunberg-inspired Friday for Future climate school strikes. In a statement to the Northern Times, the Pringle family added: "If you make New Year resolutions, please think about how you dispose of rubbish, whether ashore or afloat.
"Every little bit picked up or disposed of responsibly all helps to keep the marine environment clean and the animals that live there safe."
Throughout the year, results from each beach clean were submitted to Sutherland-based marine conservation group PlasticatBay, who collate data for the whole of the UK. The organisation then takes the info to governments in a bid to influence policy decisions.
Joan Darcy of PlasticatBay said: "Great work this year by the Pringle family. All their work is entered onto our research portal via our website. We are in the process of updating our portal into an app, so more data can be stored and it's easier to use.”
It comes as a poll revealed by the Record earlier this month showed six in ten Scots rank litter pollution among the top threats to the health of our seas. The Survation survey for Scottish Environment LINK also highlighted people’s fears over sewage and chemical pollution of Scotland’s waters.
Data from beach cleans can be provided to PlasticatBay for free at www.plasticatbay.org/research, or Ms Darcy can be contacted at joan.darcy@plasticatbay.org for further details.
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