04 October 2024
FirstPort colleagues and residents from all over the country braved the rain last week and came together to support the Marine Conservation Society’s annual Great British Beach Clean.
This year’s event, running from Friday 20th to Sunday 29th September, involved volunteers up and down the country carrying out litter picks across Britain’s beaches to help clean up the coastline and protect marine life.
The Great British Beach Clean, which is one of the largest marine citizen science activities of its kind in the UK, is a crucial initiative that relies on volunteers to collect and safely dispose of litter washed up on beaches.
Six separate beach clean-ups were organised by FirstPort, spanning coastlines from Whitby to Bognor Regis.
In addition to removing waste, volunteers recorded the types of rubbish they found across a designated 100-meter stretch of beach. The Marine Conservation Society uses this data to drive important campaigns for ocean protection and positive environmental change, and it also contributes to the global International Coastal Cleanup database.
Margaret, a resident from Seward Court, joined FirstPort’s beach clean in Highcliffe, Dorset. She said: “It was lovely to work alongside FirstPort to give something back to the community that we live in. Whilst it’s a well-maintained beach, we found quite a lot a plastic that had been washed up by the recent bad weather that we were able to remove.
I regularly walk along the beach and to know we did a little to help it retain its beauty is very pleasing.
This year’s Great British Beach Clean was more than just a chance to tidy up—it was a reminder of the power of community and collective action in tackling environmental challenges.
Clare Trotman, Beachwatch Officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “The work we do at the Marine Conservation Society simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our volunteers, who help gather crucial beach litter data. This information is invaluable in shaping scientific understanding and driving the changes needed to protect our precious marine environment.”
