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Volunteers needed for Plymouth's biggest ever beach clean
5th September 2018
Plymouth is looking for volunteers this month to take part in the biggest ever beach clean as part of the city’s ongoing work to tackle plastic pollution and reduce single use plastics.
Beach cleans organised by a range of community groups take place in Plymouth throughout the year but the UK’s leading marine charity, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has organised the annual Great British Beach Clean from Friday 14 to Monday 17 September and wants to make it the biggest and best yet. The national event, which is sponsored by Waitrose, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and MCS wants to have maximum impact. Nationally, around 7,000 people took part in last year’s Great British Beach Clean, at 339 beaches.
During September local community groups including Plymouth Beach Clean Volunteers, Environment Plymouth and Port of Plymouth Canoeing Association, have organised a number of clean up events.
Volunteer beach clean events in September
Date | Event/Venue | Time | Organisers |
---|---|---|---|
13/09/18 |
Beach Clean at Teats Hill beach |
12pm |
National Marine Aquarium |
14/09/18 |
Bovisand Beach (meet at bottom of the stairs to the beach) |
3pm to 5pm |
Plymouth Beach Clean Volunteers |
15/09/18 |
Mount Batten - Coastal clean-up paddle |
10am |
Port of Plymouth Canoeing Association |
15/09/18 |
Boat trip from National Marine Aquarium doing a ‘citizen science’ count around Plymouth Sound. Participants will be asked to mark what debris they see and how much of it is plastic. |
11am |
National Marine Aquarium |
15/09/18 |
Fort Bovisand 25th Anniversary. Great British Beach Clean and survey (meet at Cliff Edge Cafe, PL9 0AD) |
1.30pm to 3.30pm |
Sea Champions Coordinator |
15/09/18 |
Mount Batten beach (meet at the bottom of the stairs to the beach) |
5pm to 6.30pm |
Plymouth Beach Clean Volunteers |
15/09/18 - 16/09/18 |
'Plastic not so fantastic' show in the Eddystone exhibit at the National Marine Aquarium |
1pm both days |
National Marine Aquarium |
16/09/18 |
Big beach clean at Wembury (meet at Wembury Marine Centre at 2.30pm) |
2.30pm to 4.30pm |
Devon Wildlife Trust and National Trust |
23/09/18 |
Jennycliff Beach (meet at bottom of the stairs to the beach) |
10am to 12pm |
Plymouth Beach Clean Volunteers |
For the Plymouth Beach Clean Volunteer events you can just turn up and join in – the organisers will provide large tubs, bin bags, gloves and litter pickers. All you will need is to bring your own water bottle, sunscreen and some sturdy shoes.
Lizzie Prior, MCS Beach and River Clean Project Officer, says volunteers are the lifeblood of the Great British Beach Clean and have been since 1994. She says the data they collect on beachcleans is vital: “Last year an amazing 718 volunteers took part in the Great British Beach Clean in Cornwall and Devon. We’d love to see even more people heading out this year to help support us and Plymouth’s Plan for Plastics. Check out our events at www.mcsuk.org/GBBC and help gather essential data to help us understand the greater picture of UK litter.”
Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Beach cleans are just one of the many ways you can support Plymouth’s Plan for Plastics, along with litter picks, recycling and buying reusable cups and bottles. It’s a great opportunity to do your bit for the environment as well as a chance to get outside, meet new people and enjoy our fantastic coastline so why not get involved?”
Jackie Young, Environment Plymouth Coordinator, said: “With 50km of coastline and waterfront, Plymouth Sound needs all the help it can get! Beach cleans are a great way to remove all the plastic waste that is threatening our local wildlife and environment. Even if it’s just a two minute dash or you only focus on three things ….you’ll be making a difference!”
Tony Sickelmore, Treasurer of the Port of Plymouth Canoeing Association, said: “We are very proud to announce that we are joining up with the Marine Conservations Society’s Great British Beach Clean, plus the World Clean Up Day organised by cleanoceansailing.org and Plymouth’s work around Plan for Plastics, by conducting a Coastal Clean Up Paddle on 15 September.
“You may remember our very successful coastal clean-up in July and we hope to return to the same beaches and compare the state of pollution and see what has happened in the last two months.”
Organising your own beach clean
You can also organise your own beach clean with the help of the Marine Conservation Society, but you’ll need to get in touch with them first - find out more about how you can get involved, and sign up here.
The Great British Beach Clean is part of the MCS Beachwatch programme. It not only spruces up hundreds of beaches around the UK coast, but volunteers also record the litter they find, and it’s this aspect that has really helped MCS change policy and behaviours over the last quarter of a century.
Find out more about Plymouth’s Plan for Plastics here.