A Beach Clean with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Our coastline means the world to us. It’s not just where we live and work — it’s where so much of the inspiration for our spirits comes from. The wild botanicals, the sea air, the folklore of the cliffs and bays — all of it feeds into what we create at Whitby Distillery. And because of that, we feel an extra responsibility to look after it.

We’re big believers that a blast of fresh air does the world of good, especially when life gets busy. So we gathered the team and headed down to Runswick Bay with our friends at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for a beach clean.

At first glance, the beach looked pretty spotless — waves rolling in, golden sand stretching out, barely a crisp packet in sight. But once we got down on our hands and knees, the story changed. It was the tiny bits of plastic and stray rubbish that stood out: the things you could easily miss, but that cause the most harm.

A strand of fishing line, a shard of plastic, even a Lego brick — left behind, they can tangle seabirds, choke fish, or slowly break down into microplastics that end up in the food chain.

Not the heaps of litter you might expect, but enough to remind us that the smallest things often make the biggest impact.

Reflections & takeaways

• Don’t be fooled by appearances. Even when a beach looks clean, it’s the small, hidden litter that does the most damage.

• Every item removed matters. A single fishing line or sock is one less threat to wildlife.

• It’s about consistency. Small, regular cleans stop plastics breaking down further and show care for the coast.

• Community makes it better. When we do it together, it’s not just about tidying up — it’s about connection.

After filling our bags and giving the bay a once-over, we did what Whitby folk do best: put the kettle on. With mugs of tea in hand and a BOX of Botham’s lemon buns passed around, we finished the day exactly how it should be — a little community, a little care for our coast, and a lot of crumbs.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, and to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for their tireless work protecting our beautiful coastline. Here’s to many more beach cleans, one tiny piece of plastic at a time.