Islanders Clean Up East Cowes Beach in ‘Marine Heroes’ Mission

More than 40 Islanders of all ages have been hailed as Marine Heroes after joining forces for a major beach clean in East Cowes.

The community event, organised by Wild Isle Nature School and funded by East Cowes Town Council, saw volunteers collect 20 bags of litter from the Esplanade on Friday — removing over 4kg of waste from the shoreline.

Armed with equipment from Surfers Against Sewage, the team recorded the types and even the brands of rubbish found, with plastic wrappers, bottles, and fishing debris topping the list.

It wasn’t just about cleaning up — children took part in scavenger hunts, shell-spotting, and coastal wildlife activities, heading home with Marine Heroes certificates to mark their efforts.

Elle, founder of Wild Isle Nature School, said:

“Events like this show how small actions, taken together, can have a big impact on our local environment.”

Wild Isle aims to inspire the next generation of nature champions through outdoor learning and community action.

The next Marine Heroes event is on Sunday 1 September. Details and booking are at wildislenatureschool.co.uk.