Beaches targeted in the face of a 94 per cent increase in littering
Last updated 19:51, Thursday, 04 September 2008
PEOPLE swapped buckets and spades for bin bags to clean up sand dunes at Mawbray banks beach.
Members of Allerdale council and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty joined Wigton Scouts and the First Abbeytown Brownies and Guides to clean the popular beach and tourist spot.
Margaret Heyes, the council’s environmental quality officer, said: “This event was about getting young people to take an interest in the damage that littering is doing to the beach and the local wildlife.”
Allerdale mayor Allan Caine helped at the litter pick.
He said: “It’s marvellous to see so many kids keen to help. The day is showing them what can happen if they drop litter and the problems it can cause.
“This is about reducing the amount of time and money that is wasted on clearing up litter every year.”
Last year, litter on the beach increased by 94 per cent.
Graeme Proud, Solway Coast ranger, said: “People don’t realise the amount of wildlife that is being affected by all the rubbish that is dropped on the beach.
“It’s important to start educating our kids early so it reduces any problems that we may have in the future.”
l A survey and litter pick will be held at St Bees on Sunday, September 21, and aims to identify what kind of litter and how much gets washed up on Cumbrian beaches.
It is hoped that the results of the survey will prevent some rubbish ending up in the sea and curb the danger this has on local wildlife.
The event is part of national project Beachwatch. For more information, call Lucy Dunn on 07787 112665.
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