The Native Crowd

Thank you so much for agreeing to take part in this interview series on climate change in sports. I’ve followed you on Dip Advisor and Outdoor Swimmer for some time, so it’s an honour to have you take part in my interview series!

Can you tell me about your background and how you’re involved with sports, please?

Of course! In short, I’m an author, editor and outdoor swimming expert. I’m an editor at Outdoor Swimmer magazine, the world’s only monthly magazine dedicated to outdoor swimming.  I’m also Director of Dip Advisor, a swim guiding business helping people enjoy wild water. Last year, I also published my first book, How to Wild Swim: What to Know Before Taking the Plunge. Besides writing, I also teach swimming to children and adults, and I’m a qualified Open Water Coach and RLSS Open Water Lifeguard.

I contribute to various national media outlets, often covering topics like swimming, the environment, mental health, or body image. My work has appeared in The Guardian, The Times, Stylist Magazine, The Simple Things, Country File magazine, and several smaller publications. I’ve also featured on numerous podcasts and television programmes.

As an intrepid swim explorer, I’m always on the lookout for new rivers, lakes, ponds, seas, and pools to dive into. I enjoy swimming in all seasons and have completed challenging swims such as an English Channel relay crossing, a 24-hour swim challenge, the Thames Marathon 14k, and the Dart 10k, as well as countless joyful dips across the country.

How important is sustainability to you, and what led you to become interested in this area?

As someone who enjoys and spends a lot of time outdoors, I have always been interested in our human impact and how we can do better. For a large part of my career, I worked in editorial for a large retailer who had big ideas and interest in sustainability. I enjoyed meeting farmers, producers and makers who were doing their best to live and work in an environmentally mindful way. But as an outdoor swimmer, you are more in tune with seasons, changes and impact to climate and environment.

In what ways have you seen the climate emergency affect your sport, both on a local and global scale?

The biggest thing anyone ever wants to talk about is water quality and sewage dumping! While this is a huge issue and has been headline news this year a lot, it really isn’t as bad as it has been in the past or as bad as it might seem to those on dry land! Yes, our water organisations have a lot of work to do. Huge investment and development is needed in our wastewater systems and people need to be held account. But, the biggest change we have seen in recent years is the monitoring and documenting of data in this area, which makes it headline worthy and also helps with the political agenda. It is brilliant to have information on water quality, but the issues in the media are nothing new and for years we have swum outdoors regardless and enjoyed the small improvements over the years.

What is more concerning to me is a general loss of UK insects/wildlife in many areas I swim and I am often left wondering why. This year’s heavy rain and cooler temperatures has led to significantly fewer butterflies, damsel flies and dragon flies on the rivers. A recent visit to Estonia was a reminder of how rich our biodiversity used to be as I noticed insects, flower and fauna there that we seem to have lost. They have a less dense human population so there is more space for nature to flourish. I became obsessed with the storks on top of telegraph poles and their madly engineered nests. When I got home and read more about them, I learned that we are trying to reintroduce them here. The question is, why did they ever leave?

Temperature and rainfall are other things that are having a big impact on outdoor swimming. Events are being cancelled as conditions are unsafe, swimmers are missing out on opportunity and losing money as a result.

And on a personal level, long swims in summer are being cut short or not happening at all because the conditions simply cannot be relied upon. I have seen a significant drop in interest in Dip Advisor coaching and guiding this year, largely because it just isn’t warm enough for most people who like to wild swim at this time of year.

What steps are you taking personally to reduce your environmental impact?

I have always recycled at home and where possible avoid single use plastics, usual stuff. But in recent years, I have become more aware and I’m now actively changing away from products I use that can impact the water. I now use natural deodorant and all my sun cream is reef/wildlife safe. There is also a litter net attached to my swim tow-float so that I can collect litter in the places I swim. I also seek out people who are doing brilliant work in this area and try to elevate them in the magazines and media I write for.

Since learning about the waste clothing crisis in Ghana and the Volta River, I have stopped donating clothing to charity shops and instead sell on Vinted to individuals or donate to causes I know exactly where clothing is going to be used.

Can you share any specific examples of events or seasons that have been impacted by extreme weather or environmental changes?

Winter and ice swimming is hugely popular in the UK, but for two winters now, we just haven’t had cold enough temperatures for swimmers to achieve their goals and compete. Ice swimming takes place in water that is 5ºc or less, and this year a lot of inland water only dropped to around 7ºc. There was perhaps one or two occasions where we had frost and a little ice in remote places, but it is becoming wetter and warmer each winter.

As mentioned before, many swim events are being cancelled each summer as conditions are deemed unsafe or unfit for swimmers. The Dart 10k was cancelled because of wind and rain last year as was the Brownsea Island swim. Interestingly, with warmer winters, our seas are not as cool and so the English Channel swim season is being extended year on year. It used to really only take place from June to September, but for the first time this year, a relay team crossed the Channel in winter and swimmers now continue to cross into October.

Do you believe the sports industry has a unique role to play in addressing climate change?

Yes, I think we all have a role. The sports industry creates and makes a lot of STUFF and a lot of it is plastic. Neoprene, goggles, swim hats, pool kit, swimsuits…. I could go on. Where possible, finding more sustainable or environmentally-sourced materials is becoming more and more important. This year, we saw the first biodegradable wetsuit made by Zone 3 – this is a huge step forward.

But swimming events also create a lot of rubbish. It has been great to see organisers provide sustainable medals made from wood, ditching plastic bottles at water stations and considering the footprint they leave at swim sites, however.

Are there any athletes or sports organisations you admire for their commitment to sustainability?

I love the creativity and care from some outdoor swimmers who are working hard to campaign and make a difference to their corners of the UK.

Lindsey Cole is a great example of this. She is working tirelessly to raise awareness of water pollution. She has written children’s books, and has swum the length of the Thames, the Avon and across the Bristol Channel – all with a giant poo or in a mermaid outfit made out of plastic to highlight the problem.

Deakin & Blue Swimwear is a good sustainable swim brand. Ever since they started, their swimwear has been made in the UK and made out of from sustainable material.

Huge thanks to Ella for sharing her take on climate change in outdoor swimming. It was another fascinating interview for me with my love of swimming.

To follow Ella, head over to her Instagram page or LinkedIn where she shares some of her amazing swim experiences.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the interviewee. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Marjolein Thickett, The Native Crowd or its affiliates. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Readers are encouraged to explore their own views and to read as much as possible on this topic.