On 26th May Ella was invited by Reverb to help out at Lorde‘s solar powered concert in Edinburgh to support Fly Without Fins and Marine Connection for whom is is a young Ambassador. Brother Finlay and Dad Geoff were along too. What an event! A few photos below

The following day Ella joined Finlay for his 180th weekly School Strike for Climate Action!

1st May 2022 was Marine Connection’s Anti-Captivity Ambassador Ella’s 13th birthday!

In between school and homework Ella is still busy with litter picks, climate strikes, beach cleans and looking after her pup Steve.

Yesterday, May 7th, the Pringles;- Dad, Mum and brother Finlay took time out for some family fun amd for Ella to enjoy time out on her paddle board.

A gorgeous blue sky, sunny super day in the Scottish Highlands.

Sunday 9th January 2022, Ella and Finlay collected 23.04kg of assorted plastic, bottles, cans in Ullapool the from local dog walking area and around Tesco supermarket.

Ella’s growing pup Steve went along too!

Ella was flattered and honoured to by recognised as the Marine Conservation Society Young Ocean Optimist of the Year, receiving the award in their U13 aged group.

Ella takes part in so many activities many of them marine / environmentally focussed . Last year Ella set herself a swim challenge, conquered it magnificently and now loves to ride out on her SUP along with her growing #PawsOnPlastic pup Steve.

This year, after lockdown, Ella set herself a beach clean challenge and completed 11 beach cleans culminating in 1922KG of rubbish being removed from several favourite Pringle family beaches. Ella raised funds while doing so, her goal was to  collect 1500KG of rubbish and dispose of it responsibly which raising £1500 to be split between two of her favourite charities. Always striving to to more Ella is hoping to squeeze in another beach clean before then end of the year and bring the total up to 2 tonnes.

Super proud big brother Finlay, captured the virtual awarded moment on video and Blowfish AKA Marine Biologist Tom Hird called Ella a Marine Legend.

Thanks to fantastic supporters Ella reached her target on 30th November 2021 and with gift aid she has raised £1806.33p. Ella hopes to be able to get another beach clean in this year now aiming for 2 tonnes with the total currently at 922KG.

Whilst making great progress on her Beach Clean Challenge, Ella was really not impressed by the amount of rubbish she found strewn across  Scouriemore Beach last weekend. Helped and supported as always by brother Fin, Mum and Dad 247KG of rubbish was removed.

The grand total cleared from beaches to date is now is 880.14KG

Timelines to date …

12/07/2021 – 3 beach cleans completed. Running Total 218.2kg.

16/07/2021 – 4 beach cleans completed. Running Total 326.9kg.

14/08/2021 – 7 beach cleans completed. Running Total 595.2kg

10/09/2021 – 2 small Ullapool beach cleans completed. Running Total 606.3kg

19/09/2021 – 1st Scouriemore beach clean completed. Running total 880.14kg

More about Ella’s fund raising challenge here Ella’s Beach Clean Challenge

Ella has been busy again and with like minded people has gathered a further 268.3kg of beach litter towards her target of 1500kg;- the equivalent weight of a newborn Humpback whale calf. No easy task, however, Ella is determined!

Ella is raising money for two charities, Marine Connection;- she is their youngest Anti-Captivity Ambassador and Surfers Against Sewage. Surfers Against Sewage donated beach cleaning equipment whilst Ella and big brother Fin were in Cornwall supporting the Paddle Out event during the G7 Summit.

Ella’s parents Geoff and Rach fully support her efforts and helped set up her fundraiser page: https://bit.ly/EllaBeachCleanChallenge

Seven beach cleans have been undertaken since the school holidays began and a total of 595.2 kg of litter/debris have been removed so far. As of today, Ella has raised £795 towards her £1500 target – £1 per kg of a newborn Humpback whale and so grateful for all of the support.

#pawsonplastic !

Ella continues to Climate Strike every week with her brother Fin and particularly enjoyed the trip to Cornwall in June with the rest of the family. Having taken part in the Surfers Against Sewage G7 Paddle Out at Gylly Beach, Falmouth on June 12th she has been asking for her own SUP so that she and her puppy, Steve, can take to the water like Cal Major!

Inspired by Cal’s epic paddle around Scotland Ella was sad to read about the death of the young Humpback whale off Lybster which Cal encountered. Ever determined to do something positive Ella has set herself a beach clean challenge to remove 1500kg of beach litter this year, equivalent to the weight of a newborn Humpback whale calf, no easy task. She is also trying to raise money for two charities, Marine Connection for whom she is a Young Ambassador and Surfers Against Sewage who kindly donated us lots of beach cleaning equipment whilst in Cornwall.

Both charities have been in touch and to thank her for her fundraising have both sent her lovely T-shirts.

Link to her fundraiser page: https://bit.ly/EllaBeachCleanChallenge

So far 4 beach cleans have been completed since starting at the end of June and a total of 326.9kg of plastic has been removed. As of today, Ella has raised £655 towards her £1500 target so still lots to do.

The story was picked up by one of the local papers who wrote a lovely article about it, including some lovely comments about Ella from Cal Major herself.

As encouragement for her challenge Ella is now the proud owner of a SUP and is super excited to get herself and Steve out on the water.