Great British Beach Clean returns to Thanet!

A host of volunteers will be helping to clean Thanet’s beaches this weekend as part of The Great British Beach Clean!

On Saturday 16 September, two beach cleans led by the Thanet Coast Project will take place 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 15 to 18 September.

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 litter 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!”

Running alongside the Thanet Coast Project events is another beach clean at Walpole Bay on Saturday 16 September from 12pm-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