The Big Beach Clean
Lil and Caledonian Horticulture are delighted to support groups all along our beautiful coastline for a BIG BEACH CLEAN over the weekend Saturday, June 5th - World Environment Day and Tuesday June 8th which is World Oceans Day. Here’s all you need to know to get involved…
We aim to clean as much shoreline as possible along the entire coastline from Edinburgh to Berwick upon Tweed with the help of individuals, local community groups and volunteers. After the litter pick, Caledonian Horticulture will collect, sort, weigh, recycle or reuse the waste found.
DIRTY AIMS
We will use the sorted waste to highlight the big offenders and to use it to help demonstrate to those responsible that they need to help find solutions.
By all of us working together, we can achieve:
All waste will be counted/weighed in with the results published
All waste that can be, will be sent for recycling
Highlight how much litter is ending up in our seas and ways to prevent this
Marine Litter Art will be created and displayed at Fringe by the Sea with information about the beach clean and on preventing rubbish getting into the sea in the first place
Celebrate all the organisations and individuals that work so hard to keep our beaches and coastline clean and free from litter
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Are you a group that wants to help co-ordinate a stretch of coast? Or already planning something and keen to join in the cumulative weighing up? We’d LOVE for you to be involved.
Join the BIG Beach Clean Facebook Group to keep up to date will all the info, if you’re not on Facebook please email kate@frmrecycling.co.uk for more information.
Please join our interactive Ether map - no log ins required - just pop a pin on the area your group will coordinate. Add some details in the description like the group name, what you think your group can manage, and contact details you’re happy to share publicly for others to join you.
Think about how you’ll best collect your waste. Caledonian Horticulture can provide small plastic sacks (around 40L) for volunteer to use on the beaches and builders bags (around 850L) that can be filled with the smaller bags. These will be collected from you - but please also consider how best to place and store these. We can’t leave these out unattended by coastal locations in case it’s windy/ there are gulls/ crows, and our collected rubbish just ends up needing picked up again!
Alternatively, if you wish to be involved in the sorting of the waste, you can bring what you have collected along to East Fenton Composting Site – EH39 5AH.
Check the Facebook group or this page to ensure you have thought about Covid and other safety checks.
PROMOTE your involvement. Send emails, facebook events, carrier pigeons, get as many folk along as you can.
For individuals and families, welcome aboard the BIG Beach Clean!
Most important. When you’re cleaning your beach, be safe. Have a look at our guidelines below, but always remember to pick with care - this means beware sharp and hazardous objects, leave any liquids inside bottles, check old BBQs are not hot, wear gloves or use litter-pickers, or at a minimum wash your hands with soap and water immediately after. Always take care at the beach, check the tides and other hazards.
Choose your beach - see our Ether map to see if there’s a group coordinating “your” beach, or choose a spot that works for you. Join the Facebook event page.
Dispose of your waste either with the local group, or help sort it directly at East Fenton Composting Site, EH39 5AH.
SHARE your involvement, invite others along, take photos on the day.
The BIG Beach Clean FAQs
Why is this important?
Beach cleans give us a snapshot of the state of our oceans. Most litter sinks - typically less than 15% of the sea’s litter will float, or be washed ashore. But picking up that litter gives us a good idea of what’s out there, what the worst offenders are, and how we can help reduce that waste. It’s also a great day out - you’ll feel good for doing good, get outside and have a giggle or good chats about “OMG you found what?!”
I need gloves/pickers - where do I go?
We want everyone to be safe, so this is a great idea. If you have gardening gloves at home, could you use these? Lil has a limited number of litter picking gloves and tools available, and we’ll be seeing what more we can source. Get in touch hello@dolilthings.org
How do you want us to do this?
However suits you and your group best. Some groups are setting a meeting place and time, others are letting their pickers know where to bring their rubbish to once collected, and allowing people to go out anytime that suits them over the weekend. It’s whatever works best for each group. We do ask that you pop a pin to show the main area of focus, just so we can help mop up any areas that aren’t covered.
Why don’t we just do our own clean?
Numbers and statistics help make a greater case for change. If we can show how much we’ve collected from the entire coastline, we can together make a bigger noise for change - we need to turn this litter off at the tap, to not need future beach cleans. You sharing your litter with us will help that fight.
What if we find something that’s too big to carry?
We have some super volunteers heading out in boats and vehicles for exactly these items. We would ask that you use the What3Words app to specify the location and email the location and details of what to pick up to kate@frmrecycling.co.uk
There are a few other things to think about when heading out for your beach clean trip over the weekend:
- if the weather's nice the coast and the CARPARKS will be busy! Please consider how you'll travel, could you cycle, are you comfortable sharing a car, and if by car where you will park if the beach car park is full. Please be respectful of nature and local communities when parking. Dont forget your water bottle, sunscreen & hat!
- its BIRD NESTING SEASON along the coast so watch where you put your feet (they nest in the grassy dunes and on the sand). Stay out of the more undisturbed areas if pissible and be mindful of disturbing them please.
- related to above, if you're taking your DOG(S) with you please keep them on a lead or under close control. I'll be leaving mine at home cos he aint trustworthy!!
- Dont forget your gloves/hand sanitiser
- COVID restrictions are still in force. Please check the latest here https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/
- have you organised how to get your rubbish back to us for weighing and sorting? No? See how above.
- did you remember to drop a pin with a few details on the map? You can do it here https://getethermap.org/m/the-big-beach-clean
- Most rubbish can go in a bin bag. Sharps (glass, needles, anything dangerous) should go in a tub (old icecream tub is ideal) and be clearly marked as 'SHARPS'. Big bits that are to heavy/big to lug off the beach can be collected. If you get a What 3 Words (available in your app store -see above) location for it and email that to Kate@frmrecycling.co.uk Caledonian Horticulture will arrange for its collection.
- Please STAY SAFE. Remember your risk & health and saftey in undertaking a clean is your reaponsibility. If you have organised a public group you should carry out a risk assessment in advance and brief attendees accordingly.
- the following sites have TOILET facilities:
. Fisherrow – car park west of the harbour
· Port Seaton- Corner of Promende and Links Road
· Longniddry - car parks
· Gullane- access route to the beach from the car park
· Yellowcraig- car park
· North Berwick- off Quality St
· Belhaven Beach- Linkfield car park and Shore Road
· Dunbar – Bayswell Road
Please post your photos of you, your team/friends/family, say where you are, show us your finds (most surprising, grossest, useful always good to see!) and tag us @dolilthings and FRM @CaledonianHorticulture plus #ELbigbeachclean #dolilthings & #LilMonster if you make a sea monster. We cant wait to see you all in action! :-)
If you are organising a group of any sort please ensure they are aware of these points too.
Thanks for getting on board with the Big Beach Clean! We hope you will have a safe, enjoyable time and are so grateful for your enthusiasm!!
Thank you!