'Coast' readers give Norfolk beach a spring clean
80 hardy souls beat a path to Norfolk on May 8th to take part in the third annual ‘Coast’ magazine beach clean which was organised with the help of MCS.
The previous beach cleans had taken place in locations bathed in early May sun. But it was third time unlucky as the designated day this year dawned with a weather front battering the Norfolk coast plunging temperatures to levels more usually seen in February!.
The venue was Wells-next-the –Sea. You would have thought the clue was in the name, but when the tide is out the sea is miles away, leaving a huge expanse of pale yellow sand, dunes, an estuary and the most fabulous long line of colourful beach huts, which Kirsty Allsop would have described as ‘ bijou but in a location to die for.’
Participants came from all over – Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Kent, Norwich, the Isle of Sheppey to name but a few. Clothing was heavy and waterproof with wellies in every colour and big thick walking boots the beach footwear of choice as opposed to flip-flops!
Once the litter pickers had downed a warming cup of coffee and gathered their equipment at the local football club, it was all aboard a little train to take the 80 or so volunteers down to the beach. Up some steps, down the other side and then everyone had their first glance of a really fantastic beach, which despite the weather was still breathtaking.
With bin bag, clipboard for recording rubbish, metal grabber and protective gloves at the ready – everyone got down to the serious business of cleaning up the rubbish.
There was plenty to find even though at first glance the beach looked sparkling.
After an hour and half the haul had filled 21 rubbish bags. Items found included a set of boys clothing, a broken umbrella, an inflatable boat (very much un-inflated!), a rusty chair frame, a disposable camera, a plant pot, roofing felt, lots of teabags and a plastic toy spade and hammer. 85 plastic bags, 104 crisp and sweet wrappers, 70 pieces of rope and 19 balloons - balloons are a surprisingly common item on beach cleans – what other item do we release into the environment in the hundreds?!
Despite the cold and wet, the readers of ‘Coast’ magazine had made Wells beach a cleaner and safer place to be. A fish pie lunch and prizes for the biggest and weirdest things found and everyone went home with ruddy complexions and feeling really good about themselves – and it was very well deserved! After all, are there any more rewarding ways to spend a Saturday morning ?
Get involved in the Beachwatch Big Weekend 2010 over the 18th and 19th September - sign up here
Get involved in the Beachwatch Big Weekend 2010 over the 18th and 19th September - sign up here
