A volunteer organisation has cleared more than 100 tonnes of waste from a section of coastline in Sussex, with its founder emphasising the need to engage younger generations in environmental efforts.
The initiative, named BHASSEXPLORE, expands to Beachy Head and Seven Sisters Extreme Plastic Objects Removal.
The project was established in 2020 by Norman Warm, an environmental activist frequently referred to as Warm Norm.
Activities concentrate on the isolated, uneven shoreline spanning Eastbourne to Seaford.
Volunteers participate every Saturday and Sunday, navigating rocky terrain and pebbled areas to access sections of coast that remain largely untouched by visitors.
The work provides physical activity, fosters community among participants, and offers an opportunity to experience natural surroundings, according to Warm.
Mobile phone coverage is frequently absent in these locations, and there are no facilities requiring expenditure.
Over the six years since its inception, the group has maintained continuous operation without missing a single scheduled clean-up, completing approximately 600 sessions.
Volunteers have collected an estimated 100 tonnes of refuse from the shoreline during this period.
More than 400 individuals have contributed their time, though a committed group of roughly five or six members carries out the majority of tasks.
Warm, who is 64 years old, highlighted the growing importance of attracting younger participants.
He expressed a desire to generate greater awareness and enthusiasm among young people regarding these coastal locations.
The majority of consistent helpers fall within the 50 to 70 age bracket, though occasional assistance comes from walkers, cyclists, and swimmers passing through the area.
Warm clarified that most collected material does not originate from beach visitors.
Approximately 70 percent comprises marine waste, with significant portions connected to commercial fishing operations, some having remained in the ocean for extended periods.
Shipping-related debris accounts for another 20 percent, while conventional litter represents only a minor fraction.
He acknowledged that the situation shows no signs of improvement, noting that plastics have been in widespread usage since the 1960s.
Debris arrives from various directions, carried by Atlantic currents and transported along the English Channel before accumulating near Beachy Head.
River systems contribute minimally, with inland-sourced waste estimated at less than five percent.
Agricultural plastic materials are occasionally discovered in the vicinity of Cuckmere Haven.
The clean-up activities occasionally yield unexpected items.
Over time, volunteers have retrieved dentures, vintage garments, bank cards, and domestic belongings long abandoned by their owners.
Warm characterised the work as resembling archaeological investigation from the modern era, noting that items from earlier decades continue to surface.
He observed that any plastic object inevitably reaches marine environments eventually.
Warm’s commitment to environmental preservation predates the establishment of BHASSEXPLORE.
Raised in Mid Sussex, he spent his formative years investigating woodlands and waterways, regularly gathering discarded items discovered in hedgerows and considering their potential for repurposing.
From the age of 12 or 13, he was already extracting refuse from roadside vegetation and organising it for collection.
In later years, he made a practice of remaining at festivals and outdoor gatherings to assist with waste clearance.
He maintains that leaving any location in improved condition than upon arrival represents a fundamental principle.
Alongside increasing concerns about pollution, Warm has observed a substantial reduction in coastal wildlife throughout his lifetime.
While volunteers regularly spot seals from a local colony alongside swans, egrets, and herons, marine species appear considerably reduced compared to historical levels.
Accounts of traditional practices such as collecting shrimp and prawns from rock pools have become rarities in contemporary times.
Despite achievements to date, Warm acknowledges that the task remains perpetually incomplete.
Certain areas within Cuckmere Haven contain plastic deposits measuring several feet in depth, accumulated over decades.
He has expressed that sustainability of the effort requires future involvement from others to address these neglected stretches of coastline.