Last week there was a collision between two ships off the East Yorkshire coast near Withernsea - the place where I first stepped into a classroom as a teacher during my PGCE a long time ago.... there were fires and other issues as a result.
This BBC article explains that plastic is being washed up on the beaches of North Norfolk, close to where I used to live.
The coastguard said a "retrieval operation" was under way between Old Hunstanton and Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk - as well as other parts of The Wash - where "miles" of the pellets, known as nurdles, have been found.The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said it hoped lower tides in the coming days would help aid the recovery.
"We have a period of smaller tides – a small window of six or seven days – to get this operation under way and clear most of this stuff off our beaches," said Hayley Roan, from the RSPB in Norfolk.
"This is an internationally important area for birds and wildlife.
"This risk is birds might ingest some of this stuff, and the harm would be immense."
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust is concerned about the possible impact.
The currents and tides (and the prevailing wave patterns in that part of the North Sea and The Wash) tend to bring sediment down from East Yorkshire to North Norfolk. This also means that pollution is appearing on the beaches.
The public are requested not to touch any material found. If you come across any nurdles or possible pollution along the Norfolk coast please call Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on 0344 382 0580 or email zone8@hmcg.gov.uk If possible, please provide a 'What Three Words' location or a grid reference to assist HM Coastguard to identify the exact location. In an emergency call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
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