A key aim for all our courses is to provide opportunities for our students to engage with environmental issues in and out of the classroom in positive, empowering ways. There is nothing more positive and empowering than an afternoon helping local community group Beach Guardian with a beach clean.
And, once the beach clean is wrapped up, we make sure to head out on a coast walk to soak in the nature all around us.
What happens in the sea and on the land around Cornwall will have a direct effect on people in Morocco, India or the United States.
Our oceans and lives are interconnected and so we all share a responsibility to look after our local environment and we should take pride in the fact that our actions will have a global impact.
One of the magical things about our beach cleans with Beach Guardian is how they inspire us to think about our connection to the planet as a whole.
There is no guilt involved in a beach clean. It is a fascinating scientific exercise to examine what’s really washing up on our beaches.
For example, there are the most beautiful mermaid’s purses and even seeds from South America to be found on the shore line. These natural items washing up on the beach are just as important to look at as the plastics and man-made objects we may also find too.
Beach Guardian is a community-driven environmental initiative based in Cornwall, co-founded by father-daughter duo Rob and Emily Stevenson.
It all began in 2017 with a mission to combat plastic pollution through beach cleans and environmental education. They started by organising regular clean-ups around local beaches.
This small project quickly gained momentum with the launch of their Facebook page. Through social media, larger community clean-ups were organised and even more people became connected with their cause.
A pivotal moment in their journey came in 2018, when Emily wore a dress made from discarded Walkers crisp packets to her graduation. This bold statement drew global media attention and led to real positive changes, including Walkers launching a recycling scheme for their packaging.
Over time, Beach Guardian has expanded its outreach, conducting educational workshops in schools and developing partnerships with local businesses to further its mission.
These days, Emily is working on academic research to address the environmental impact of plastics, reflecting the charity’s commitment to both immediate action and long-term scientific solutions.
Their work has connected thousands of volunteers, reached millions through social media, and helped raise awareness of plastic pollution in oceans globally.
We often do our beach cleans at the weekend as part of a full-day excursion. It is great to have the time to complete the beach clean and look at our findings without feeling there is a rush.
Doing beach cleans at the weekend gives us time to really enjoy the stunning coastline around Trevose Head, where these days usually happen. The headland’s striking landscape serves as an impressive reminder of why it is so important to preserve the beauty of nature.
Upon arrival, our students are introduced to Rob, who kicks off the afternoon with a fascinating educational talk right on the beach itself. Rob and his team guide us through the different types of debris found on the shore. They explain how to distinguish between man-made and natural materials. We learn eye-opening facts about ocean pollution, whilst handling microplastics and other objects from previous beach cleans. It’s powerful to consider how far these tiny items travel around the world.
Equipped with gloves, litter pickers, and bags—which are made from discarded festival tents!—students then set out to explore the shoreline and collect waste. In just an hour or two, our students can realise how we can impact the planet positively through collective action.
Beach cleans can yield interesting finds, such as decades-old plastic or even historical objects. The experience brings the issue of marine pollution to life in a tangible and unforgettable way. Students finish feeling satisfied and invigorated by their contribution to cleaning up the coastline.
Once the beach clean is finished, what better way to wrap up the experience than by exploring the gorgeous coastline for a coast walk or we may even have time for a surf lesson!
It’s the perfect way to wrap up our inspiring experience with Beach Guardian, taking this moment to connect with the landscape and its beauty.
At Language Tree, we know it is essential to discuss climate issues in the classroom.
We have specifically chosen the National Geographic Outcomes series of course books to ensure key environmental themes are fully integrated into our courses.
Then, through our beach cleans with Beach Guardian and other excursions like when we visit the Eden Project, we hope to go beyond climate discussions and to engage in simple activities and habits that are important to embrace as we learn to live with climate change.
At Language Tree, we recognise that it is the responsibility of all businesses to make efforts to be more sustainable. Here’s how we try to do our bit:
Beyond that, we are lucky to be surrounded by sustainable efforts all around the Penryn Campus. Across the university grounds, there is fantastic access to recycling bins and rewilding projects that have won the campus the Green Flag Award on multiple occasions.
As well as Beach Guardian, there are several marine conservation groups doing significant work to protect and improve the Cornish marine environment.
There is also a growing awareness of the importance of reducing food miles and making the most of our local produce. The Eden Project & Heligan provide excellent examples of organisations demonstrating and discussing sustainable farming
Cornwall has been an early pioneer of wind farms and will soon be home to the first deep geothermal power project in the UK. Even the important biodiversity of Cornwall’s striking hedgerows are protected by law!
Environmentalism is at the core of Cornish identity. Visiting the historic country homes around Cornwall, like Lanhydrock & Trelissick, we are reminded of how our ancestors treasured and celebrated nature.
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