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Join Dougie Poynter and The Whale Watchers on an unforgettable summer adventure!

With research highlighting that, 70% of children aged 7-11 are worried about the future of the planet, and nearly 60% are worried about plastic pollution affecting sea animals, we’re proud to bring you The Whale Watchers. A book that explores the role whales play in the fight against climate change, and why we need to protect them from the dangers of single-use plastic pollution.

Order your copy of The Whale Watchers now - for every purchase, WDC will receive a minimum of 25% of the net sale price

A message from Dougie

"I’m so excited to share my new book with you. Few animals do more for our climate than whales so it’s really important that we all do our part in protecting these Goliaths of the ocean.  

I first started to understand the lasting damage single-use plastic pollution is having on animals when a palaeontologist showed me a massive ball of plastic bags which was found in the body of a camel in the Sahara Desert, after the litter ended up there. It’s horrifying to think that this is happening everywhere – including in the ocean.  

Since that moment, I have continually campaigned to change the way we use and consume plastics. The Whale Watchers is the next instalment in my efforts to educate children and adults, and I’m really proud to have partnered with BRITA and WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) to produce this novel. 

The Whale Watchers really highlights that when businesses, charities and people come together, we can really make a change."

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Although it can feel overwhelming thinking about single-use plastic pollution, there are a number of little actions we can all take, which, when joined together make a really big difference.  

You can follow in the footsteps of The Whale Watchers by trying these changes at home and in your community.  

When you’re getting ready for adventures and days out this summer, and beyond, why not make a switch from takeaway lunches which come wrapped in plastic packaging and bottles? Instead, get great tasting water on the go, with a BRITA Active bottle, or fill a reusable bottle you already have with filtered water from a BRITA jug, and pack home-made sandwiches in containers, just like Jesse and Finn’s mum does on the train with her trusty Tupperware tubs.

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Finn knows that reducing and reusing is the best way to combat single-use plastic waste but if you do use plastic (once it can’t be reused any more) check the symbols on the label to see if it can be recycled and place it in the correct recycling bin.

You can take your used BRITA filter to your closest recycling point.

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If you’d really like to follow in the footsteps of The Whale Watchers, why not sign up to a beach clean, a great thing to do whilst you are away on holiday, or at home. Have a search online for cleans local to wherever you are.

Alternatively, adopt the ‘Take 3 for the sea’ moto set by Leave No Trace in Brighton, which encourages you to pick up three pieces of rubbish every time you visit a beach. 

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Get your whole school involved!

If you’re a teacher and your pupils have been inspired by The Whale Watchers and want to learn more, BRITA has created a range of detailed and insightful teaching resources, which focus on the vital role whales play in the fight against climate change and how to create a more sustainable reuse culture. 

The resources include assembly plans, group and individual activities, home learning ideas, discussion guides, SEND ideas, active learning, linked resources, and even a whole-school project. All resources have been linked to the national curriculum and have also been adapted for lower and upper key stage two classes.  

The free resource pack can be downloaded below.

Download FREE school resources today

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The Whale Watchers - Teaching Resources

(PDF, 11.58 MB)
Download now
Children drawing for BRITA School Competition

School Competition

BRITA invited schools and community youth groups up-and-down the country to take part in an exciting competition to win £3,000 to spend on a sustainability initiative of their choice. Over 470 schools from all around the UK took part, with hundreds of children having a try at creating their unique and compelling design for the BRITA recycling bin that will inspire others to reduce, reuse and recycle to protect the environment.

BRITA Recycling Bin Competition winners

The winning design

Woodlands Hutton Manor created the standout winning drawing, as selected by our judging panel in partnership with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Look out for BRITA recycling bins - the design will be incorporated on future bins across the country!

I am so ridiculously thrilled and excited about what our student-led eco-club will want to do with the money!” – Donna Burkert, Deputy Head Teacher.

With so many wonderful entries, choosing the winning design was no easy task for our judging panel. That’s why we also selected two runners-up – from Bosmere Junior School, and Buriton Primary School - who received a BRITA bundle as a recognition for their wonderful designs. It is truly inspiring to see how many children, from as young as 6, were excited to get involved to help us encourage people to look after our environment. “The children will love this, we've been talking about conservation and recycling a lot recently and they are all really passionate about it” – Mr D Brown, Badger Hill Academy

Shortlisted entries

Bosmere Junior School Havant Recycling Bin Competition design.

Bosmere Junior School

Year 6

Bosmere Junior School Havant Recycling Bin Competition design.

Bosmere Junior School

Year 6

Buriton Primary School Hampshire Recycling Bin Competition design.

Buriton Primary School

Year 6

Buriton Primary School Hampshire Recycling Bin Competiton design.

Buriton Primary School

Year 6

Copley Junior School Doncaster Year 5 Recycling Bin Competiton design.

Copley Junior School

Year 5

Copley Junior School Doncaster Year 5 Recycling Bin Competiton design.

Copley Junior School

Year 5

Lakeside Primary School Cardiff Year 2 Recycling Bin Competiton design.

Lakeside Primary School Cardiff

Year 2

Lakeside Primary School Cardiff Year 2 Recycling Bin Competiton design.

Lakeside Primary School

Year 2

Litter from WDC beach clean

Supporting WDC

For over five years, BRITA has been working tirelessly with WDC as a long-term charity partner to support sustainable behaviour change in the UK. The growing issue of single-use plastics in the ocean is a threat to whales and dolphins, with a recent report finding that 68% of species are negatively affected by plastic pollution and that is only going to increase.  

BRITA and WDC has been working to raise awareness of these important issues among business leaders, politicians and high-profile individuals to create further momentum behind reducing single-use plastic waste. BRITA is committed to reducing single-use plastic waste and minimising the use of disposable plastic bottles, which cause significant damage to the ocean. Plastic pollution is a severe threat to marine life, as sea creatures find themselves snared in pieces of plastic, fish mistake it for food, and corals are destroyed by floating waste.  

Find out more here.