National Trust reveals the weirdest jetsam that has washed up on Britain’s beaches

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From a bin called ‘Pete’ to Russian bug spray: National Trust reveals the weirdest jetsam that has washed up on Britain’s beaches as it shines light on the problem of marine pollution

  • The National Trust looks after 780 miles of coastline around the United Kingdom 
  • Waste washed up from the sea continues to blight UK beaches, the charity said
  • Also found were a rum bottle from post-Prohibition America and piles of broccoli
  • The trust is calling for people to take part in beach or river cleans to tackle waste

By Ian Randall For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

The National Trust has revealed the weirdest jetsam that has washed up on Britain’s beaches — as it shines light on the problem of marine pollution.

The bizarre items spotted on the shores cared for by the charity include a bin nicknamed ‘Pete’, a can of Russian bug spray and the remains of a 1980s picnic.

Waste in the ocean continues to blight UK beaches despite growing public awareness of issues such as single-use plastics, the charity said.

The National Trust is calling on people to take part in beach or river cleans as part of a campaign to encourage the tackling of pollution and to help the environment.

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The National Trust has revealed the weirdest jetsam that has washed up on Britain’s beaches — as it shines light on the problem of marine pollution. Pictured, ‘Pete’ the bin at Blakeney Point

The bizarre items spotted on the shores cared for by the charity include a bin nicknamed 'Pete', a can of Russian bug spray, pictured and the remains of a 1980s picnic

The bizarre items spotted on the shores cared for by the charity include a bin nicknamed ‘Pete’, a can of Russian bug spray, pictured and the remains of a 1980s picnic

While some of the finds are of recent items and their debris, others illustrate just how long waste can last in the seas.

These include 19th, 20th and 21st century shoes, as well as more recent finds of a 1976 Claws crisp packet, a 1980s picnic, Smarties lids from before 1988 and even a post-Prohibition era bottle of rum from the US.

Some of the items that turn up on UK beaches are from far afield, including an aerosol can from Saudi Arabia and plastic debris covered in goose barnacles that is believed to have drifted over from the Caribbean.

There is also the Canadian research buoy that washed up at White Park Bay in Northern Ireland — still recording temperatures and sending the data off via satellite — and sonar equipment from Texas which turned up at the Giant’s Causeway.

Some of the debris hailed from closer to home, however, including a council bin from Peterborough — nicknamed ‘Pete’ — which travelled 70 miles along the River Nene to Blakeney Point and was later returned to its home constituency.

Cargo lost at sea can also account for rubbish washing up on beaches, such as nautical-themed Lego from a 1994 spill at Land’s End, and BMW parts, dog biscuits and oil-covered Mars bars from the MSC Napoli grounding off Devon in 2007.

The National Trust looks after 780 miles of coastline around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Finds included a Canadian research buoy, pictured, that washed up at White Park Bay in Northern Ireland ¿ still recording temperatures and sending the data off via satellite ¿ and sonar equipment from Texas which turned up at the Giant's Causeway

Finds included a Canadian research buoy, pictured, that washed up at White Park Bay in Northern Ireland — still recording temperatures and sending the data off via satellite — and sonar equipment from Texas which turned up at the Giant’s Causeway

'It's fascinating to hear of the unusual things that land on our beaches, whether they're relics from history or objects that have travelled thousands of miles,' said National Trust's coastal specialist Phil Dyke. Pictured, Russian bug spray that washed up at Orford Ness, Suffolk

‘It’s fascinating to hear of the unusual things that land on our beaches, whether they’re relics from history or objects that have travelled thousands of miles,’ said National Trust’s coastal specialist Phil Dyke. Pictured, Russian bug spray that washed up at Orford Ness, Suffolk

‘It’s fascinating to hear of the unusual things that land on our beaches, whether they’re relics from history or objects that have travelled thousands of miles,’ said National Trust’s coastal specialist Phil Dyke.

‘But as weird and wonderful as these items are, they tell a more serious story about the permanent nature of plastic, and the constant deluge of marine litter arriving on our shores.’

‘No-one in the UK lives more than 75 miles from the coast, so whether we’re in the city or the country, everything we do impacts on the health of our seas.’

‘The good news is that there has been a surge in public awareness in recent years, with more people joining beach cleans and swapping from single-use materials.’

‘Even small actions like using less packaging and picking up litter can make a difference. We’ve all got a part to play in helping our seas recover.’ 

THE NATIONAL TRUST’S TOP 20 MOST UNUSUAL BEACH FINDS 

  1. Fly spray from Russia — Orford Ness, Suffolk
  2. ‘Pete’ the council bin from Peterborough — Blakeney Point, Norfolk
  3. Remains of a 1980s picnic — Formby, Merseyside
  4. Thousands of neon pink detergent bottles — Lizard, Cornwall
  5. Nautical-themed Lego — Whitehaven coast, Cumbria; Devon and Cornwall
  6. BMW parts, dog biscuits and Mars bars — Branscombe Beach, Devon
  7. 19th, 20th and 21st century shoes — Orford Ness, Suffolk
  8. Canadian research buoy, still operating — White Park Bay, Northern Ireland
  9. Sonar equipment from Texas — Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
  10. Barnacle-covered plastic from the Caribbean — Brownsea Island, Dorset
  11. Piles of broccoli and carrots — Formby, Merseyside
  12. Rice cakes, buckets and loose apples — Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire
  13. Parts of a 1900s cooking range — Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall
  14. Aerosol can from Saudi Arabia — Orford Ness, Suffolk
  15. 1976 “Claws” crisp packet — Formby, Merseyside
  16. Tiny plastic soldiers — Whitehaven coast, Cumbria
  17. Rowntree’s Smarties lids from pre-1988 — Whitehaven coast, Cumbria
  18. Bottle of rum from post-Prohibition America — Formby, Liverpool
  19. Mercedes C111 1970s bottle opener — Formby, Liverpool
  20. 26 helium balloons — Orford Ness, Suffolk