Last month, we reported on the Edinburgh Shoreline Project and how, over the coming year, scientists and conservationists will work with local people to search for little-known species, explore rock pools and mudflats and undertake practical conservation work. One part of this will be an exhibition by the award-winning sculptor Julia Barton. Although based in Portobello, Julia’s work is part of a much bigger, Scotland-wide project – the Littoral Art Project – aimed at explaining the harm that plastic does to our shoreline and the value of all that material that’s just been thrown away. She’s producing sculptures, such as the one in the photograph #LitterCUBES, from items she’s collected – this little blue box is made of cotton bud sticks found on our own beaches in Portobello.