Get to know the team.
We are a group of eco-friendly nature lovers who wish to get all Jurassic Coast beach cleaners and litter pickers together. There is strength in numbers and with us all working together, we can accomplish so much more. Take a look at the beach cleaning page if you’d like to join us!
Roy Beal
"Life is simple, just add water!"
I’m a sea kayaker, walker and lover of the outdoors. I grew up on the River Dart, playing in boats and kayaks as a child. Actually, I’m not sure if I ever really grew up. I moved to a seaside town in 2011 and although I’ve always loved water, I realised I had finally found ‘home’, I started sea kayaking in early 2013 and since then, with help from many friends and supporters, I’ve raised over £35,000 for good causes under my Kayaking for Charity banner. I love nothing more than to pack a tent and food and go off somewhere for a few days to be with nature, this may be a hike or in my sea kayak. The sea is my playground, Mother Nature is my reason for being and, now I’ve hit my 50’s, I have at last found where I belong and what I need and want to do.
In May 2021, I left a 33 year career fixing cars for a living and, as well as my voluntary role here at Clean Jurassic Coast where I spend 2 or 3 days a week beach cleaning and running this CIC, I am now helping with local conservation, as well as working for charities like Keep Britain Tidy (I am one of their ambassadors). It’s time for a change, time to do something for the planet – time to help it!
A couple of years ago, I had an idea called Just Add Water, Not Plastic, named after my wooden kayak Just Add Water. I was fed up with collecting plastic from every beach I stopped at when I was out on the water. In early 2020, I changed the name to Clean Jurassic Coast.
I love a good challenge and in 2021 I kayaked from John O’Groats to Land’s End in Just Add Water, solo, raising awareness about the effects of plastic pollution in the marine environment. A world’s first (it had only ever been paddled solo the other way before), I successfully went against the prevailing winds and completed the 963 mile trip in 56 days, living out of a one-man tent the entire time.
In the summer of 2022, I kayaked the 95 mile Jurassic Coast. Actually, kayaking reduced the distance to just 82 miles. With just a couple of quick leg stretching stops along the way, I completed the distance in 22 hours and 12 minutes. Raising awareness about marine plastics again, I also experienced severe fatigue and hallucinations. At least I didn’t have to live in a tent for 2 months!
You can find me on Instagram as @roysoutdoorlife.
Zoe Hughes
"Just Keep Swimming!"
Hi everyone, another nature enthusiast here, and a sea swimmer!
I have always had a natural draw to the ocean, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to me when I chose to go to a University next to the sea. This resulted in many beach barbecues and sea swimming adventures, without a wetsuit! These experiences, along with my University studies, secured my passion to work in nature conservation.
In my job, I highlight the fascinating connections between the environment millions of years ago and our modern world. I am particularly keen to engage young people with nature, as it is the next generation who will be most impacted by changes in the environment. It can be frustrating to go up against environmental challenges like ocean pollution and climate change, but I have seen some incredible acts of kindness and believe that, together, we can make a difference.
Currently, I am helping out with the ‘tech’ side of Clean Jurassic Coast, but as this initiative grows, I hope I will meet more enthusiastic people who can help keep our beaches clean!
Louis Pulford
"Just change the packaging!"
I am a lover of nature and the Dorset Coastline. I’ve lived on the coast my whole life and as a child, my dad used to take me sailing regularly. This bred my passion and love for the ocean.
I am also a local photographer which draws me to the coastline regularly, thus being exposed to the litter constantly being left behind and highlighting the plastic epidemic. Finding the like-minded souls of Clean Jurassic Coast has given me the hope and outlook needed to find solutions to the problems.
For me, being active on the coastline and keeping the scenery clean is something of a meditation, a release which leaves me with a humbling feeling when walking away from a cleaner environment.
I am glad I picked up a litter picker and joined the cause, the movement is growing, join us and make a difference today.
You can find me on Instagram as @louispulford_creative
Lee Cooper
"Living life on the veg!"
Hi all, my name is Lee – skateboarder, photographer, drone pilot and all-round nature lover!
I run a Dorset based Bamboo Toothbrush company called ‘Bamboozle Toothbrush’ which is another way to help people reduce their single-use plastics at home.
I joined the Clean Jurassic Coast team to help keep our litter riddled corner of home that little bit cleaner and as nature intended. Having lived here for 31 years, the Jurassic coast still has that ability to take you back in time, now that’s worth fighting for!
You can check out my work here on Instagram – @leecooperphotography
Gordon
“Be the solution to plastic pollution”
Hi. I’m Gordon. I’m a retired chef and have been on the Jurassic Coast for well over 40 years. I’m happiest when I’m in, on, or under the water and have always picked up rubbish from beaches for as long as I can remember.
Then I joined Clean Jurassic Coast and learned there is strength in numbers. Over the last few years, we have removed serious quantities of plastic pollution from all along our Heritage Coast. If you too want to make a difference, pick something, anything, up.
I’m on Instagram as @beachbuddy10
Mermaid Taurva
"When the sun comes up, it lights up everybody."
In so many ways, we all come from the water. We are water and we are all connected because of it.
My siren name is Taurva and my human name is Hannah. I am a daughter or ‘mer-maiden’ of both land and sea and I surfaced to help the wonderful Clean Jurassic Coast help recover and rebalance our home.
Like most merfolk now I was born on land. Over the years the water has become increasingly toxic and full of plastic and trash. The ocean floors, sea families and habitats are being destroyed by fishing trawlers, abandoned or damaged nets and land waste is leaking everywhere.
My ocean brothers and sisters are choking on microplastics, being negatively affected by changes of temperature in the water and whole ecosystems are collapsing. In a desperate attemt to find a way to stop this devastation and survive, merfolk have been walking on land and living in secret to find a solution. I want to help reconnect people back to the sea and inspire humans to thrive daily without damaging the planet.
On land I am a Professional Musical Theatrical Performer and I have been lucky enough to have travelled and performed in theatres all over the worId. Through travelling I quickly saw the horrific things that were happening daily to animals, people and how much plastic and waste is effortlessly choking our environment. I’ve also seen some incredible activism, been a part of peaceful protests and now whitness daily compassion and education everywhere.
Whether it be for animal rights, replanting trees, self car or coral restoration projects there is a huge mindfull shift happening and I truly believe togther we will and are helping to rebalance. I care deeply for the wellbeing of the earth and oceans and want to help by reigniting the power of empathy through story telling and art.
What we all do really matters! Even if switching from plastic bottled washing up liquid to soap bars or joining a beach clean feels small, it really isn’t.
This is why I am so proud to now be a member of CJC and I cannot wait to for the next adventure and connect with you all!
So my question to you is what will you do now, will you help us?
Website: https://mermaidtaurva.wixsite.com/book
Instagram: @mermaidtaurvauk
Mermaid Aveyah
"Keep our sea plastic free"
Hey, I’m Mermaid Aveyah but when on land known as Beth. Being from the sea I’ve had no other option but to surface and ask for your help!
My home/life has been transformed by plastics, which has had such a negative effect where it’s made its way into our environment, clogging our seas, impacting wildlife and people all around the world.
Inspirational research and initiatives have and are being designed to help tackle the problem, but we can all be doing our part through local projects like Clean Jurassic Coast to curb plastic waste and raise awareness.
So I am here to inspire people to do right by our planet, most importantly for a future. Educating the younger generations to get them to understand the importance pf reducing, reusing and recycling plastics to help preserve the fragile ecosystem of the ocean and its marine life.
When I’m using my land legs I’m a pool lifeguard, beach lifeguard and a member of CJC to educate and preserve life. So will you help us in our battle against plastic?
Instagram: @mermaid_aveyah