This winter we took it upon ourselves as a family to dig these abandoned buoy anchors out of the mud.
We extracted four, all of which were so heavy it was near impossible to carry them away. There has been less litter but the storms bring in all sorts of things.
Plastic pollution has been unremitting but it is good to be making a contribution. It is such a beautiful area, so important to wildlife.
Some of the items are dangerous.
Others have travelled a long way, possibly dropped off ships.
Most pieces are small, some tiny, others revolting. It is satisfying to go out after a storm.
It is then that a lot of PVC rope comes in. It can do a great deal of damage.
I use a bucket as bags flap in the wind and there are often sharp pieces of glass.
They can weigh 4kgs when full. This one contained a lot of old fishing line.
I often find unopened drinks or packets of food.
Almost every day there is a helium ballon and a mask to pick up or extract.
It’s as if the sea is spitting them out.
We sometimes come across amusing pieces, often toys or balls of some kind.
The best thing about collecting plastic pollution is that it gets us out there.
For a full list of things we’ve found washed up on the Solent – click here
Sophie Neville 