We’d like to say a massive THANK YOU to all the volunteers who joined the Museum of British Surfing and our friends at Surfers Against Sewage for the first two events in the 2011 North Devon Beach Clean Series this weekend – what a great turn out, and superb job!
100 people came to Saunton on Sunday and picked up almost 400kg of marine litter and other rubbish in just 2 hours – the day before 55 volunteers joined us a Woolacombe and collected 96kg. Among the ‘finds’ – a TV set, car bumper and a set of fisherman’s oilskins! 310 volunteer hours were completed over the two days.
On a more serious note there are thousands, if not millions of mermaid’s tears on our beaches. This isn’t anything to do romantic ancient sea legends, they are tiny round plastic and polystyrene pellets used by the plastics industry as a raw material that ‘find their way’ into watercourses and into the sea. They’re killing our marine life and turning the tide line into a multi-coloured, toxic slick.
We are partnering SAS in their campaign to turn the tide against marine litter, and we’re supported in our efforts by those lovely people at the North Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Museum of British Surfing is creating a special local surfing & environment section funded by the North Devon Aonb & Leader 4, and supported by SAS, at its exhibition venue opening in Braunton next April. It will explain why the North Devon coast became a surfing hub, and highlight issues such as marine litter that affect our coastline.
Thanks again to all of the volunteers who freely gave of their time to help us keep our beaches clean – you’re wonderful!
You can catch up with our latest work on Facebook.
The next beach cleans in the North Devon Series are:
Westward Ho! – 26th November 11am – 1pm
Woody Bay – 27th November – 10am – Midday
Lynmouth – 27th November – 2pm – 4pm
If you’re attending please email dom@sas.org.uk or call 01872 555 953
