Two Thanet beaches will be cleared up this weekend as part of The Great British Beach Clean.
Thanet Coast Project and volunteers will take part in the clean ups on Saturday (September 16), at Minnis Bay and Cliffsend to coincide with the Marine Conservation Society’s annual campaign.
The campaign aims to help people around the UK to care for their coastline. This year’s events will run from September 15-18.
Every year the Marine Conservation Society produces a report on the type and quantity of litter that can be found around the UK’s coastline. The litter collected at the Thanet events will contribute towards this report and help record the different types of waste found on its beaches.
Each event will last around two hours and equipment such as gloves, litter picks and bags are provided by the Thanet Coast Project.
Cllr Lin Fairbrass, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “It’s so important to protect Thanet’s beaches from litter and waste. Unfortunately, sea creatures are endangered or threatened by waste ending up in the sea, so it’s never been more important for us to do our bit to help protect them.
“Our beaches are thriving places for wildlife, so it’s fantastic to hear so many people are attending a beach clean this weekend to help make a difference to the beaches we know and love in Thanet!”
Meet: Outside ‘The Minnis Restaurant’, Minnis Bay,at 10am
Meet: On the beach below the former hoverport access road at 2.30pm for the Cliffsend clean up.
Running alongside the Thanet Coast Project events is another beach clean at Walpole Bay on Saturday (September 16) from noon-2pm. Volunteers are welcome to come along on the day and there is no need to register in advance.
The Great British Beach Clean is just one of several initiatives Thanet District Council are involved in to raise awareness of the importance of keeping its beaches clean.
There are also 15 ‘2 minute beach clean’ stations around the district’s beaches to encourage beach users to spare two minutes to carry out a beach clean, and to act as a reminder that looking after our beaches is everyone’s responsibility