On a bright Sunday morning in early spring, the Sea Shepherd Tasmania team ran a community clean up on the foreshore of the River Derwent at the Bridgewater Parkland. The sunny day also came with ferocious winds, requiring the team to hold on tight to their collecting bags! Bending into the wind, the 10 participants persevered for the whole hour, collecting a total of 1254 items.

There was plenty of plastic to pick-up – 373 bits of food packaging, 297 soft plastic remnants and 65 drink bottles. Interestingly there were very few bits of foam compared to previous clean ups (only 24), 3 tyres and 1 shopping trolley.

Prior to the clean up, some of the volunteers attended a tree planting event with the Bridgewater Foreshore Landcare group, who are planting trees and grasses to create a habitat for wildlife moving along the foreshore.

It was a very productive morning, thanks to everyone who volunteered to help our wildlife on land and in the river, and to Brighton Council for approving the event and collecting the rubbish.