Clean Cornwall Week takes part in Marine Conservation Society's beachwatch survey programme.
As part of the Clean Cornwall Week (4th-10th April), a handful of volunteers and National Trust rangers set about cleaning the Strangles and Northcott Mouth beaches. All the litter was recorded as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s beachwatch survey programme, where all beach clean data is examined to show what is being washed up and dropped on our beaches.
The Strangles day turned out to be a bit of a wash out, but the 3 that turned up managed to brave the elements and tidy up the beach. The most interesting item found was what appears to be the remains of a GPS system.
On Sunday 10 April, a group gathered at Northcott Mouth near Bude. The weather was completely opposite, glorious sunshine and light winds. Armed with litterpickers, bin bags and rubber gloves, the team scoured the beach for litter and by lunchtime…well…you could eat your lunch off it!
Results for the two beaches were similar in terms of the items picked up, but very different totals. Both beaches are exposed to the prevailing southwesterly winds and Atlantic swells so the litter found was mostly flotsam and jetsam, however The Strangles is more inaccessible and off the beaten track so fewer items were dropped by people whereas Northcott is much more frequented so along with things washed ashore, there was the usual human traffic detritus.
Results for the top ten highest scoring items:
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Strangles
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Northcott Mouth
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7 large rubbish sacks filled
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21 large rubbish sacks filled
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129 plastic bottles 94 pieces of plastic 80 pieces of rope 60 pieces of polystyrene 54 plastic lids/caps 18 crisp/sweet/lolly wrappers 14 plastic bags 10 toys/party poppers/fireworks 9 foam/sponge pieces 8 aerosol cans
(476 total for top ten) |
585 pieces of rope 528 pieces of plastic 315 pieces of polystyrene 254 plastic lids/caps 74 plastic bottles 65 crisp/sweet/lolly wrappers 58 plastic bags 45 fishing nets <50cm 45 foam/sponge pieces 37 fishing line (anglers)
(2006 total for top ten) |
So, what it all boils down to is plastic, plastic and more plastic. There was heaps of the stuff. It takes so long to break down and in the mean time clogs up our beaches.
Many thanks to all the volunteers who joined us on our beach cleaning missions, the beaches always look so much better for it and they become a much safer place for people and wildlife. Time well spent.
Thanks to Jeff Cherrington from the National Trust for sending us this.
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