BEACH cleans have been completed at Whitehaven and St Bees throughout 2019 with the help of nearly 400 volunteers, who collected over 100 bags of litter from the Copeland coastline. 

The partnership have thanked those that gave up their time for the environment and are planning the final clean for December 19. 
Colourful Coast Project Officer Sophie Badrick said “It’s great that so many people want to do something to tackle the marine litter crisis.

"There’s such an interest in the marine environment and coastal pollution that we have no shortage of volunteers whatever the weather.

"We’ve had lots of interesting finds this year. Plastic Smarties lids are a regular find and they often look like new, but in fact Smarties began to use cardboard caps in 2005 so when we find a plastic lid it illustrates how long plastic might be in the oceans for before it washes up and can be removed.

"Dead sea birds have been seen on some occasions. None of them have been tangled in litter, so it’s more likely they died in rough seas or bad weather. 

She said: “Our beach cleans wouldn’t be as successful without the help of Carvetii Coffee in Threlkeld who donate hessian coffee sacks so we have less plastic going to landfill.”

Thanks were also given to Copeland council’s waste team from Copeland Borough Council who collect all the non-recyclable litter found.
The Partnership will be holding their last beach clean of the year on Thursday 19th December at Whitehaven North Shore.

There will be mince pies and chocolates to help celebrate a successful year of beach cleansing. All the details can be found on the Colourful Coast website.