I WAS pleased when the plastic bag levy was introduced to England just over a year ago.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales had already introduced the scheme successfully.

However, Even advocates have been surprised at the difference it has made.

In 2014, before the levy, we took home an estimated 7.6 billion plastic bags from the supermarkets.

This is equivalent to some 61,000 tonnes of plastic.

In the first six months after the levy, just over 500 million bags were used.

So it seems likely that the 5p charge has meant a reduction of around 85 per cent of bags, some 52,000 tonnes of plastic.

Not only does this mean there is now more room in the cupboards at home, it also means less plastic in the environment.

Fewer bags caught up in hedgerows or washed up on our beaches.

Some marine wildlife including seabirds, turtles and dolphins swallow bags, which can prove fatal.

Another benefit of the levy is that the money raised has been donated to charity.

So far it has raised more than £29 million for charities and community groups.

Sussex Wildlife Trust has received £3,000 from the Southern Co-operative Love Your Neighbourhood campaign from the levy, which we have used to buy tools and equipment.

Our pre-school Nature Tots groups, including one based at Stanmer Park, have got kettles for their camp fire, buckets and trowels for the mud café, and bow-saws for making wooden medallions.

Our Youth Ranger groups have also got new saws, spades and loppers to aid their practical conservation work.

So the whole scheme has been a great success.

All I need to do now is stop my wife from buying the latest design of jute bag.

  • Pete Crawford is head of education at the Sussex Wildlife Trust