The beach at the north end of the reserve, near St Combs, will be receiving a thorough clean on Saturday 18th May as part of the MCS ‘Beachwatch’ Scheme.
Beachwatch is a year-round UK-wide beach litter survey and clean up, organised by MCS that encourages local volunteers to survey marine litter every 3 months. Volunteers remove all the litter from a measured area of their local beach, recording every item that they find. The data gathered from Beachwatch every September is published by MCS in the Beachwatch Report. This information is used at national and international levels to raise awareness of the impacts of marine litter, to promote measures to reduce litter at source and to campaign for marine litter legislation.
We would like to see more volunteers than ever before lend a hand to make this latest clean the biggest yet and ensure that the local beach remains clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.
The event starts at 10.30 until 4pm, meeting at The Tufted Duck Hotel in St Combs, people are welcome to turn up throughout the day and it promises to be a fun and informative social occasion.
The tide of litter washing up on our shores is not just unpleasant to look at; it can harm and even kill some of our best-loved marine wildlife. Over 170 species including seabirds, turtles and whales have mistaken marine litter for food and actually eaten it, which in many cases has resulted in starvation, poisoning and ultimately a slow, painful death. Plastic packaging and discarded fishing nets also injure, entangle and drown some of Britain’s favourite marine animals, including seals and dolphins.
MCS surveys have recorded a steady increase in the amount of beach litter since 1994. The four main sources of litter found on UK beaches come from the public, fishing, sanitary waste (particularly cotton bud sticks) and shipping.
MCS Beachwatch results are vital in turning the tide on litter. They have helped influence changes to laws on the disposing of waste at sea, and resulted in investment in better sewage treatment at the coast. Local beach cleans like the one at all help towards highlighting this serious issue.
RSPB staff will be on-hand helping out throughout the day and will have a supply of bin bags, survey sheets and litter pickers for volunteers. Volunteers just need to bring themselves, some warm clothing and stout footwear. Teas and coffees will be available for volunteers during the clean-up. We want people take part in an event that will not only make the beach look great for visitors, but will also help MCS identify where the litter comes and try to stop it at source.
So please come on down and show your support!
For more information or to join in contact us at:
E-mail: Strathbeg@rspb.org.uk
Telephone: 01346532017
Amy Telford, Community Engagement Officer (RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond)