NEWS FEED
UK marine charity, The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), says it hopes a last push for people volunteering for its ‘Great British Beach Clean’ (16 – 19 September) around the Dorset coastline will ensure some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK aren’t being taken for granted.
So far just 40 volunteers have registered to clean up 19 Dorset beaches.
Charlie Wild, from Dorset Litter Free Coast and Sea says: “If you live by the sea or just enjoy spending time along the beautiful Dorset coastline, joining a beach clean can help make sure it’s looking its best!”
The MCS beach clean event takes place every third weekend in September as part of the charity’s year round Beachwatch programme. Volunteers who get involved in Dorset will be joining an army of beach cleaners not only around the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, but all over the world as part of the global International Coastal Clean-up, which takes a snap shot of beach litter across the planet on a single weekend.
Lauren Eyles, MCS Beachwatch Manager says all the Great British Beach Clean events are organised by volunteers who are the lifeblood of the event: “We want to match last year’s figures and see at least 6,000 volunteers taking part – 192 of which were in Dorset. We’d love to see people heading to Dorset’s beaches and helping clean up at the events that have been organised at:
Friday 16 Sept
Newton’s Cove; 12.00pm
Baiter Park, Poole; 5.30pm
Saturday 17 Sept
Holes Bay, Poole; 10.30am
Bournemouth Beach; 10.30am
Seatown, Chideock; 10.30am
Chesil Cove; 11.00am
Solent Beach, Bournemouth; 12.30pm
Kimmeridge Bay 2.30pm
Sunday 18 Sept
Hengistbury Head; 10.00am
Abbotsbury (drop in any time); 10.00am – 4.00pm
Studland (Knoll) beach; 10.30am
West Beach, West Bay; 10.30am
Chesil Beach Centre; 11.00am
Ham Common (Lake Drive); 11.00am
Lulworth Cover; 11.00am
Warbarrow Bay (meet at beach); 1.00pm
Swanage Town Beach; 1.30pm
Monday 19 Sept
Lyme Regis (Monmouth Beach); 2.00pm
100 metres of beach are surveyed and all the events have an organiser to help on the day. Volunteers use a straightforward form to record what they pick up. This helps MCS to add to the local and UK litter data picture. The information collected will be used by MCS to work with governments and industry in the charity’s ongoing work to stop litter getting on to our beaches in the first place. All of the beach cleans have an organiser to help on the day.
Lauren Eyles says the data collected through the Beachwatch programme is vital: “It helps us identify different litter sources and raise awareness of particular problems. We’re currently running a campaign for clearer wet wipe labelling after our volunteers found on average, 50 wet wipes per kilometre of beach they cleaned. So far almost 6,000 people have supported our petition to get retailers to make their packaging clearer.”
To get involved in the Great British Beach Clean 2016 in Dorset and be part of the most influential fight against marine litter in the UK visit www.mcsk.org/greatbritishbeachclean You can also speak to the team on 01989 566017
