Join in this month's big beach clean!
As part of the Great British Beach Clean week (16-19 September), organised by the Marine Conservation Society, the National Trust has a series of beach cleans taking place in Devon and Cornwall this September for volunteers to come along and help clear up their local beach.
There are nearly 2,500 items of rubbish for every kilometre on a beach and every year National Trust staff and volunteers use valuable time cleaning up the beaches it clears for and the Trust is calling for everyone to take some time, get out and help clear their local beach.
Nick Lawrence, National Trust Assistant Director said: ‘Cleaning our beaches is a regular task for our teams of staff and volunteers, not only do beach cleans help to improve the coastal habitat for plants and animals but they are also great fun and suitable for all the family to take part in. and you’ll also be doing your bit to ensure that the beaches you love and we care for are clean and ready.
‘The National Trust is an independent conservation charity (funded through memberships, donations, legacies and commercial operations) and it costs £3,000 to look after each mile of coast year – that is £1 million pounds a year just to look after the 300 miles of coastline we care for in the South West’, he added
Earlier this year thousands of pink bottles washed up on Poldhu Cove on the Lizard Peninsula, this Cornish beach was thrust into the limelight with media from all over the world turning up to cover the story. Hundreds of volunteers had to work day after day picking up new waves of bottles with each tide and thanks to their efforts the beach was once again returned to its one of the most beautiful beaches in the South West.
The coast in the South West is visited and enjoyed every year by more than 22 million people with 63% of people regarding visiting the seaside or coast as important to their quality of life, but the future ongoing protection of these places is essential if our coast is to remain beautiful and accessible for future generations.
More information on National Trust Beach Cleans here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/beach-cleans-in-devon-and-cornwall
