Information from the Environment Agency shows that the majority of designated bathing waters across Devon and Cornwall have a good or excellent rating for water quality. However, the Environment Agency’s Swimfo bathing water website advises against bathing at several locations. It is officially the summer holidays, and as millions of people flock to the coast, the Environment […]

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DNA – based methods offer a significant opportunity to change how we monitor and assess biodiversity. These techniques may provide cheaper alternatives to existing species monitoring or an ability to detect species that we cannot currently detect reliably. However, for most species, there is still much development required before they can be used in routine monitoring. […]

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South West Water and Recycle Devon encourage Exeter shoppers to show they’ve #GotTheBottle to prevent plastic pollution As part of the award-winning ReFill campaign, South West Water is taking further steps to make tap water more freely available, helping to reduce litter from single-use plastic bottles and keep people healthy and hydrated when out and […]

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Scientific paper published by University of Plymouth reveals impact ‘bio-bead’ spillage in Fal Estuary has had on ecosystem Billions of highly toxic plastic pellets that spilled into an estuary in Cornwall  ten years ago have entered the food chain, scientists have discovered. Bio-beads – small wrinkled or ridged plastic pellets – are used as a base […]

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Devon’s ‘largest ever’ fatberg discovered in Sidmouth sewer An unwanted Christmas present of hardened fat, oil and wet-wipes longer than six double-decker buses, has been discovered in a Sidmouth sewer under The Esplanade. The 64-metre fatberg is the biggest ever discovered in Devon or Cornwall and is thought to be one of the largest found […]

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