Tidal Suffolk
Keeping Suffolk's beaches clean
The Suffolk Coast and Heaths Unit is leading the way in establishing and extending voluntary beach cleaning and monitoring schemes along the Suffolk coast and estuary foreshores. The annual Beachwatch event has been organised successfully in the county for a number of years, and is now increasing its coverage and volunteer involvement. As a result, the year-round Adopt-a-Beach scheme was launched in the county in March 2005, and thanks to an ever-growing team of volunteers, it is now firmly established in Suffolk. The schemes are part of national initiatives run by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), and co-ordinated in Suffolk by the Coast and Heaths Unit.
By surveying our beaches and removing and recording the items collected, volunteers can play a major role in helping MCS identify and take action against the worst marine pollution offenders. It also highlights the threat to marine wildlife caused by the discarded litter and other pollution. Litter not only looks unsightly, but also affects the tourism trade and can be harmful to both people and wildlife. Animals such as dolphins, whales, turtles, fish and seabirds frequently become entangled in marine litter, many of which often die as a result.
While the success of the schemes is entirely dependent on the voluntary support of the public, the great news is that anyone at all can be involved! The more people we can enlist on the schemes, the better, and together we really can make a difference to help make the Suffolk Coast an even better place, for both people and wildlife.
Owing to the growing success of the schemes in the county, we have now produced the second edition of the Suffolk Results Newsletter in conjunction with MCS. This document summarises the yearly results for both schemes in the county, detailing the groups involved, where they take part, and other facts such as the top ten litter items in Suffolk, the total number of volunteers involved through the year, distances surveyed, the number of bags of rubbish collected, along with lots of photos of happy volunteers and beautifully clean Suffolk beaches and foreshores! The publications make very interesting reading, and can be viewed via the links at the bottom of the Beachwatch page. Just think, if you join in with an existing team or even organise a team yourself, your picture could be included in the 2010 Newsletter! If you would like a copy of the latest (or previous) newsletters, please contact Lynn Allen at Suffolk Coast and Heaths. We are grateful to Hutchison Ports and Adnams for their generous financial contributions which helped to make this publication possible.
Numerous people undertake independent litter picks, and we are really grateful to everyone who does this.
For more information about Beachwatch and Adopt-a-Beach in Suffolk, please contact Lynn Allen, Countryside Officer, at Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB Unit.
Tel: 01394 384948