independent Cornish news and comment

Penwith: Your Beaches Need You!

Longrock beach (Between Marazion and Penzance) is one of many Cornish and UK beaches that will be receiving a thorough clean on 16th/17th September as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) national Beachwatch 2006 beach clean and survey event. MCS needs volunteers to get together with family, friends or colleagues to help make Beachwatch 2006 the biggest beach clean yet!
Since it began in 1993, Beachwatch has become the most extensive monitoring programme in Europe for coastal and marine litter and thousands of volunteers have joined the nation-wide war on litter each year. During last year’s MCS Beachwatch 2005 weekend, nearly 4,000 volunteers took part, cleaning and surveying 332 beaches and collecting over a quarter of a million items of litter, a clear signal that clean beaches are a matter of high concern to the UK public. The survey recorded an average of 1,981 items per kilometre surveyed on UK beaches, the equivalent of one piece of litter every 50 centimetres.

Beach litter is more then just an eyesore; it’s a problem on a major scale, costing local authorities in the UK an estimated £14.5 million annually, but there is something practical, and simple everyone can do to help.

Beachwatch, the flagship event of the Marine Conservation Society’s Adopt-a-Beach project, is also part of the International Coastal Cleanup so all data collected is used at an international level. Taking part in Beachwatch 2006 is an easy, simple and fun way of making a practical difference to your local coast! Beachwatch is supported by the Crown Estate.

Anyone wanting to take part and help MCS make Beachwatch 2006 the biggest yet should contact their local Beachwatch 2006 Organiser:
Ian Williams, Tel: 01209 214239 / 077 64 522934
Email: williamsij@yahoo.com

Alternatively they can contact the Marine Conservation Society directly on 01989 567807 or e-mail beachwatch@mcsuk.org for information and a registration form.

MCS - dedicated to caring for our seas, shores and wildlife www.mcsuk.org