EcoBlog / Charity

The UK’s environmental laws changed significantly after this article was first published in 2019. In this Friendly Turtle EcoBlog piece, we look back at the proposed Environment Bill and the hope that stronger environmental governance could improve protection for oceans, rivers, wildlife, air and waste management after the UK left the European Union. The original article focused on Surfers Against Sewage and its #GenerationSea campaign, which encouraged people to speak up for stronger protections and healthier waters. A later version became the Environment Act 2021, so the article has been updated with historical context while keeping its original campaign message. It also links readers to current Surfers Against Sewage action, reflecting how ocean campaigning has evolved while concerns around plastic pollution, water quality and long-term environmental protection remain highly relevant.

Surfers Against Sewage has long been one of the UK’s best-known marine conservation charities, bringing communities together to protect oceans, beaches and waterways. In this Friendly Turtle EcoBlog article, we look back at why the organisation stood out to us when we chose our charity partner in 2019. Plastic pollution and the growing impact of single-use plastics on marine life were among the environmental issues we cared most strongly about, making Surfers Against Sewage a natural fit with Friendly Turtle’s values. The charity combines community action, education and campaigning, including its Plastic Free Communities programme, to help reduce avoidable plastic waste and encourage cleaner, healthier waters. This article reflects our original 2019 partnership and the reasons we chose to support its work at the time, while highlighting why local action and long-term environmental awareness remain important.