The three finalists in the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards, Sutton-on-Sea Beachcare, Humber Wild and the Together Initiative, presented their projects to an audience of community representatives and wildlife specialists from across the county during an inspiring day at Whisby Education Centre on Saturday 27 September. In awarding Sutton-on-Sea Beachcare with the trophy, the judges commented that they were impressed with how the reach of the group has grown and their commitment to raising awareness of the all too often forgotten marine wildlife.

Sutton-on-Sea Beachcare began in 2016 as a small group of residents who were concerned about litter on their local beach. Led by Lianne Havell and her son Jordan, the group has gone from strength to strength, organising beach cleans, recording marine wildlife and campaigning. 

People of all ages and abilities are welcome to join the beach cleans and the number taking part sometimes exceeds 40. The group is also joined by young people completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award, corporate away-days, Brownies and school groups. A teacher visiting Sutton-on-Sea on holiday was so impressed, she returned with 52 schoolchildren to carry out a beach clean and learn about marine wildlife. 

Over the nine years since they started, volunteers have collected over 8,000 bags of rubbish. This year, with the additional debris washing ashore as a result of the collision between the two tankers in March, has been exceptional. So far in 2025, the group has collected 771 bags, including large quantities of plastic nurdles, many of which were burnt together into clumps. After all beach cleans, the litter is itemised, recorded and reported to the relevant authorities, adding an extra challenge for the organisers who often spend more hours on paperwork than actually collecting the litter. 

The volunteers also record archaeological finds and stranded marine mammals, and report these to specialist organisations such as British Divers Marine Life Rescue and the Coastal and Intertidal Archaeological Network. One recent find was timber from a 19^th century shipwreck. 

Recent campaigns have resulted in a recycling system for fishing line in the village and the group is currently on a mission to reduce the sale of flying rings. These plastic toys, also known as ring frisbees, are particularly dangerous to seals. Seals are curious animals and will play with the rings which may get stuck around their heads. Once stuck, the ring can cause serious injury, infection and ultimately lead to the death of the seal. Thanks to the campaign by Sutton-on-Sea Beachcare, local businesses are agreeing to stop selling the rings. 

On hearing the group named as winners of this year’s Lincolnshire Environmental Awards, Jordan Havell commented that he was “gobsmacked and surprised”. He added: “I genuinely didn’t think this would happen.”

Reflecting on the award, Lianne Havell said: “This is something very special. It’s recognition of all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.”

The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards are organised by the Rotary Club of Lindum, Lincoln in partnership with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and sponsored by Pennells Garden Centres, a longstanding family-owned business with centres in Lincoln, Cleethorpes and Sleaford.