Communities in Action: The Great British Beach Clean
Every September, the Marine Conservation Society holds its annual Great British Beach Clean, which takes place over 10 days across the country.
Over the weekend Deborah Wood, Community Liaison, joined the Lancashire Marine Conservation branch on Half-Moon Bay, Heysham.
The event, led by the infectious enthusiasm of Kathy McAdam, is open to everyone. Kathy ensures all volunteers are well prepared, offering a brief on what to expect before sending off groups to gather and record litter. The data is then meticulously logged into detailed charts categorised by type, material and size.
Our task involved walking along the strand lines (the areas marked by seaweed that indicate high tide deposition) and collecting rubbish while noting any interesting marine finds along the way. The atmosphere was lively, with lots of chatter and laughter as we worked together to protect the environment.
Once the litter is collected, it’s weighed and properly disposed of. All data is uploaded to the Marine Conservation Society database, contributing to a comprehensive view of the current state of UK beaches.
This data has played a vital role in shaping polices, such as the plastic bag charge, which has led to an 80% reduction in plastic waste on UK beaches. This progress is fantastic news for marine species like Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) which frequent UK waters. These turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their primary food source, so reducing plastic waste significantly improves their chances of survival.