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Volunteers fill 20 sacks cleaning Whale Island waterfront
17 March 2025
Bottles, sweet wrappers, rope, wood and even an outdoor sofa were among the junk washed up – or dumped – on the shoreline of Whale Island.
Volunteers staged the first beach sweep-up of 2025, walking around the 1½ mile shoreline/perimeter of the island which serves as home to the Navy’s headquarters, Phoenix damage control school and numerous lodger units.
Seven personnel answered the call from organiser Ian Macfall and promptly filled 20 sacks with detritus dumped in the harbour or beyond and deposited on the shoreline (the couch had to be dealt with separately).
The amount of rubbish in the Solent/Portsmouth Harbour demands a sweep of HMS Excellent’s waterfront every few months, organised by the island’s executive department and lodger units
“It is integral to the surrounding marine life and that we continue to ensure that this is routinely completed” said Ian.
“Once all the rubbish has been collected, we have to separate it and place into the specific refuse collection bins.”
Having cleaned up Whale Island, Ian and colleagues are looking for volunteers to do the same around Horsea Island on March 26 to coincide with ‘The Great British Spring Clean’.
Personnel who would like to assist should meet at Horsea Island main gate at 0930 with the appropriate ID and weather clothing.