The White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, with support and funding from Dover Harbour Board are jointly carrying out a marine litter survey and clean-up at Shakespeare Beach on Sunday 16 September, as part of the Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) Beachwatch Big Weekend.
Last year's Shakespeare Beach clean-up was a resounding success with double the number of volunteers collecting over 5,800 pieces of litter weighing a total of 154kgs. Nationally the Beachwatch Big Weekend saw almost 5,000 volunteers cleaning 142km of beaches across the country, collecting over 247,000 pieces of litter.
Paul Sampson, Partnership Officer for White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, who is hoping to give the shingle beach a deep clean, as well as surveying the type of litter that has been washed ashore, said: "We're joining hundreds of other surveys taking place over the weekend throughout the country and it will really help us to find out what type of litter is making its way by sea to this part of East Kent."
Vicki Case, Environmental Manager, Port of Dover said: "The beach clean is a fun event for all the family, there will be trophies for the person who collects the most litter and one for the most unusual piece of litter found. There will be a talk about the effects of marine litter and also on the wildlife that calls Shakespeare Beach its home. Even if you can only spend an hour helping out - a combined effort will make all the difference to our local beach."
Volunteers should come down to Shakespeare Beach between 10.00am and 2.00pm on Sunday 16th. Please meet at the gate to the beach off Lord Warden Square at 10.00am.
