Countdown to coastal clean up
Countdown to coastal clean up – UK’s biggest beach clean is just days away
Marine Conservation Society urges coast lovers to head to the shore for ‘Beachwatch Big Weekend’
With just a few days to go before the annual Marine Conservation Society (MCS) nationwide beach clean, there is still the chance to sign up, join in and make the most of an autumnal trip to the seaside.
Beach litter has almost doubled over the last fifteen years, and in 2010 alone, average litter levels across the UK jumped an alarming six percent compared to 2009. MCS wants to break this rising trend, and the charity says it cannot do it without public support.
This year’s MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend takes place on the 17th and 18th of September, and will involve thousands of volunteers taking to the beaches all around the UK coast. Litter pickers will clean up and record the rubbish they find, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup which takes place in 80 countries worldwide. The data collected shapes MCS’s beach litter campaigns and keeps the subject matter firmly on the Government’s agenda.
Some of our best loved marine wildlife is under threat from hazardous litter in our seas. Hundreds of species of marine wildlife accidentally eat, or become tangled up in litter – and it’s also hazardous to people.
Last years Beachwatch Big Weekend revealed a shocking rise in the amount of bathroom rubbish found on UK beaches. Brits are using their loos as bins and flushing away items like cotton buds, condoms, sanitary towels and tampon applicators. The amount of sewage related debris ending up on shores shot up by 40%, according to the latest Beachwatch report published earlier this year.
MCS Beachwatch Officer Lauren Davis says it’s crucial we do something to tackle rising litter levels: “We’d like to see much more involvement around the UK coastline. Right now, we’re especially on the look out for people who can help us organise a beach clean in the area, and anyone can simply volunteer to take part.”
Lauren says a beach clean is a great way to gather vital data: “From personal experience of organising regular beach cleans at Sand Bay near Weston Super Mare, the day can be really inspiring and fun, come rain or shine. It’s great to have the help of so many enthusiastic locals of all ages who are clearly passionate about getting involved and improving their local marine environment. It’s amazing what you can find, on the last survey in July we came across part of a bed post, far bigger and heavier than the young volunteer who was determined to drag it quite some distance off the beach!”
Beachwatch Big Weekend 2011 – be part of the biggest and most influential fight against marine litter in the UK. Find out more at www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch or telephone 01989 566017. Photo credit Matt Oldfield
