The Wombles Community Charity

Introducing ‘Action Nan!’

We want to inspire everyone to be more Womble and do their bit to improve the quality of their local environment. We also take inspiration from the actions of others. One of our heroes is Pat Smith, whose environmental actions in her native Cornwall have earned her the nickname, ‘Action Nan’. Pat hates plastic waste. Not only does she go out in all weathers to clean up ocean plastic on Cornwall’s Beaches, but she has founded The Final Straw Cornwall, which aims to make the country single-use plastic free, and is also an active member of the Plastic Free St Austell Group.

Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution and when it breaks down into micro-plastics it causes harm to marine life and enters the food chain. Pat’s work is focused not only on collecting some of the waste that ends up on our beaches, but also reducing the amount of single use plastic we create.

When asked by Cornwall Live to explain what inspired her to act, she said, ‘“There is a quote I always use by American actress Lily Tomlin, ‘I always thought somebody should do something and then I realised I am somebody.’ I’m somebody, so I decided I was going to do something about it.

Great work Pat!
YouTube link here to a film featuring Pat.