Andy Dinsdale has organised nearly 100 beach cleans locally over 15 years and says he has a brain full of rubbish! Although keen volunteers turn out to help, more are always needed.
Another beach clean has been organised on the river bank, Winchelsea for Sunday October 28 and helpers would be very welcome. Meet at 3pm in the car park next to the toilets at end of Dog Hill Road, TN36 4LX. This clean up is supported by the ‘Surfers against Sewage’ (SAS) national event, focusing on recording bottles to provide vital data to inform government decisions on a new deposit-return scheme.
The scale of this clean-up – the biggest across the UK – will show the range of bottles and cans that end up polluting our islands. The event will start with a briefing as it is important to identify and record what is found along the river banks and the beach. It is advised to be prepared for whatever the weather will be on the day but sturdy footwear is important. Gloves and litter pickers will be provided.
The River Rother beach clean-up at Rye on Monday October 22 was a great success. Andy is pleased to report that 600m of river bank was cleared of nearly 50kg of rubbish which included 229 plastic, aluminium and glass drinks bottles. This equates to just over one drinks-related single-use item for every three metres of river bank. Andy thinks most of the rubbish arrives from Rye and upstream Rother paths, moorings, roads, villages and towns.
To find out more, contact Andy Dinsdale at strandline@me.com or phone 07754946762. Surfers against Sewage, St Agnes, Cornwall, TR5 ORD, main line 01872553001
Image Credits: Andy Dinsdale .