Published: Wednesday, 26th March 2025
From today, Wednesday 26 March, the borough council has appointed Oracle to use a mechanical vacuum to collect and remove plastic nurdles from the following areas. They will visit:
- Brancaster (National Trust) on Wednesday 26 March
- Titchwell (RSBP) on Thursday 27 March
- Holme to Old Hunstanton (Le Strange/ Norfolk Wildlife Trust) on Friday 28 March
A borough council officer will accompany staff from Oracle who will be using the machine.
Cllr Sandra Squire, Cabinet member for Environment and Coastal, said:
“We continue to approach landowners across our coastline to get their feedback on the plastic nurdle issue on their beaches and to see how we can support them.
“Our cleanup teams have done an incredible job removing some of the bigger burnt nurdle masses but this machine should help as we move to the next phase of our beach cleanup of this pollution.
“I would like to remind our residents that, although nurdles are not toxic, they can present a risk to wildlife if ingested. Please keep dogs on leads for now. Don’t touch any nurdles you find. We are doing regular beach surveys of the beaches in our area to identify areas that need cleaning.”
Hayley Roan, Senior Sites Manager, RSPB Titchwell Marsh and Snettisham, said:
“We are really grateful to the Borough Council for their fast and efficient response in cleaning up the loose nurdles. However, plastics remain a serious concern - they can be mistaken for food and enter the food chain, posing a significant threat to wildlife.
“This is an internationally important area for wildlife, where rare and threatened species are just beginning to return to breed. It's also a living landscape and the incredible biodiversity here supports the fishing industry, tourism, and thousands of local jobs. This incident is a stark reminder of why protecting our sea and shorebirds and their habitats is so important.”
Victoria Egan, General Manager for the National Trust on the Norfolk Coast said:
"As a conservation charity, we're incredibly grateful for the response and support we've received from multiple agencies and authorities in cleaning up the plastic pellets that have washed ashore at Brancaster Beach. With tides turning this week, Oracle's use of a mechanical vacuum to collect and remove some of the loose nurdles from the strandline comes just in time.
"We remain deeply concerned about the long-term impact of this plastic pollution on the Norfolk coast and its wildlife, which could continue to be washed up for weeks and months to come. Any pollution incident can have a devastating impact on wildlife and this is a vital time for many migratory birds as they return to our shores for the breeding season, as well as marine life including seals and fish."
Dr Jon Burton, Managing Director from Oracle Environmental Experts, confirmed that:
“We are glad that we are able to assist in the clean-up effort of the pre-production plastic pellets (aka nurdles) along the West Norfolk coastline. The clean-up will remove these potentially environmentally harmful microplastics form this environmentally sensitive area, protecting the local wildlife and reducing the wider environmental impact.”
If you come across any nurdles or possible pollution along the Norfolk coast please call Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on 0344 382 0580 or email zone8@hmcg.gov.uk - If possible, please provide a 'What Three Words' location or a grid reference to assist HM Coastguard to identify the exact location.
The latest updates from the Coastguard are posted on this page: Updates: Vessels incident off coast of East Yorkshire | HM Coastguard UK