This year, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is celebrating 25 years of caring for our seas, shores and wildlife. You can help support the charity and raise funds for its vital work by holding a BIG BLUE DAY at school or at work.

It is really simple to join in - whether you dress up or dress down in blue for a day for a £1 donation to MCS, your event can take place at any time – but what better opportunity is there than on any day between World Turtle Day (Friday, 23rd May) and World Ocean’s Day (Sunday, 8th June)?

If you'd like to help us celebrate and protect our BLUE planet, please ask for your free BIG BLUE DAY pack today from fundraising@mcsuk.org. Each pack contains BIG BLUE DAY posters, stickers, MCS leaflets and information about how every £1 makes a difference to our seas, shores and wildlife.

Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port held a brilliant BIG BLUE DAY last year, raising over £200, some staff even dyed their hair and beards blue! Staff and pupils at Hiltingbury Junior School, Chandler's Ford, St Helen's CE School, Alveston and Barrs Court Primary School, Bristol all held Big Blue Days and raised vital funds to support the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund at MCS.

Every person, school, club or workplace that raises £150 or more for MCS will become a Turtle Champion and receive a special adoption pack with posters of all seven turtle species and all seven gorgeous cuddly turtles!

In addition, you could celebrate World Turtle Day on 23rd May by adopting a turtle with MCS. This distinctive, thoughtful gift gives essential support to endangered marine turtles around the world, and in our very own seas. As well as an adorable, cuddly turtle, window sticker, pen and personalised adoption certificate, your adoption pack will contain beautiful pictures and fascinating facts about your marine turtle species and how you are making a meaningful difference to the future of these remarkable animals. Visit the website of the Marine Conservation Society at www.mcsuk.org or call MCS on 01989 566017 to Adopt-a-Turtle today.
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Contact:
Richard Harrington, Communications Manager
Telephone: 01989 566017; Mobile: 07793 118384; Email: richard.harrington@mcsuk.org Clare Perez, Adopt-a-Turtle Officer
Telephone: 01989 566017; Email: clare.perez@mcsuk.org

Editor’s notes:

1) The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, and protection of marine life and their habitats. MCS provides information and guidance on many aspects of marine conservation and produces the annual Good Beach Guide (www.goodbeachguide.co.uk), the Good Fish Guide and www.fishonline.org on sustainable seafood, as well as promoting public participation in volunteer projects and surveys such as Beachwatch, Adopt-a-Beach, Seasearch and Basking Shark Watch. MCS is currently calling for an effective Marine Bill for England and the UK and complimentary legislation in Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland, to deliver better protection for marine species and habitats, including a network of highly protected marine reserves and a system for marine spatial planning. www.mcsuk.org

2) An Adopt-a-Turtle pack contains a cuddly baby turtle, window sticker, pen, welcome letter, personalised certificate, full colour A3 fact sheet and poster, stunning A4 full colour portrait of the chosen species, a current newsletter ‘Talk Turtle’ and free subscription to two more editions. A standard pack is £25 plus p&p. A Turtle Champion pack contains the above plus all seven known species of marine turtle and seven cuddly toys to represent each species. A Turtle Champion pack is £150 plus p&p.

3) World Turtle Day is the 23rd May each year and was instigated to draw attention to turtle conservation issues and highlight ways in which we can help protect these amazing animals.

4) World Oceans Day is a day to set aside to do something amazing for our seas, shores and wildlife. Created in 1992 at the United Nations “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro, World Oceans Day is an opportunity to celebrate our seas and our personal connection with the sea.

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Marine Conservation Society . Unit 3 Wolf Business Park . Alton Road . Ross On Wye . HR9 5NB
01989 566017 . info@mcsuk.org . www.mcsuk.org MCS Scotland . 3 Coates Place . Edinburgh . EH3 7AA . 0131 2266360 . scotland@mcsuk.org

Registered charity no (England & Wales): 1004005 . Registered charity no (Scotland): SC037480 Company Limited by guarantee no. 2550966 . Registered in England VAT no. 489 1505 17