Suffolk FWAG Farm Conservation Award

Alexanders School, Bawdsey. LJESENAOIVA

SCH volunteers and rubbish

Scouts and rubbish

It’s not just about removing the litter - although this plays an important part in the process - but also identifying and recording what the rubbish is. This enables MCS to identify particular areas of concern, such as balloons or fishing line which can then lead to specific campaigns such as ‘Don’t Let Go’ and ‘Hold On To Your Tackle’ respectively, to raise awareness and help address the issue. Marine litter is a huge problem. It isn’t just visually unattractive and potentially dangerous to humans, but results in the slow, agonising death of thousands of seabirds and marine mammals each year. Volunteers in Suffolk are making a massive contribution to the UK effort and also the global picture. Teams took part in last months event all along the Suffolk coast, from Lowestoft to Felixstowe, and along the rivers Stour and Orwell. Encouragingly, the response from most groups was the same – the amount of litter collected is reducing compared to previous years, which must in part be the result of the on-going effort by such enthusiastic and committed volunteers in Suffolk! Teams included Scouts and Guides, Parish Councils, local residents, conservation organisations and larger businesses such as Legal & General. The items gathered were equally as wide-ranging…a dead Christmas tree, an Action Man leg, and an unexploded flare. Plastic was by far the biggest problem as always, comprising over 50% of the rubbish removed. The results will be published by MCS next spring in the Beachwatch Big Weekend 2014 Final Report, so we will find out then the detail of the contribution in Suffolk. If you would like to organise a team to take part in Beachwatch in Suffolk, please contact Lynn at the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB, lynn.allen@suffolk.gov.uk or go to the website for more information.