The team at the Final Straw Foundation have begun the next phase of water sampling, adding to their spatial analysis of forever chemicals in Langstone and Chichester Harbour, a collaborative research project which is taking place with Brighton University to analyse micro particulates in the harbours. They hope these results complement their forever chemical study and really inform people ‘what’s in the water-pre and post storm’. This study will provide updated results on what is happening in our harbours and if these micro plastic particles are increasing, staying the same or decreasing. The study will also assist in identifying on the type and source of plastic pollution and the difference present pre and post storm water discharges. We’ll keep you posted on the results which are expected early March 2024.

It’s been a long, wet November at the Final Straw Foundation. They’ve been busy beach cleaning with dedicated volunteers and removing hundreds of KGs of waste from the Solent shores, with over 90% being single use plastic, with one dedicated clean up helping to launch the ‘Bin your Butts’ campaign with local councils. They’ve been helped by 30 children aged 8-10, collecting cigarette butts to highlight the amount of cigarette waste on our beaches and streets. The children told passers-by what they doing and that cigarette butts contaminate our water and negatively impact our wildlife. Together, in just 1 hour 3.5kg of cigarette butts were collected and inspired children to never smoke a cigarette in their lives.