It so happened that at the Storm Gathering on Mull this year we had decided not to paddle until after lunch, due mostly to a major hangover, so were left to find something to do. We decided to go for a stroll along the beach at Uisken, Ross of Mull.
When we got there we were shocked to see such a picturesque place covered in old fishing net, plastic bottles, carrier bags. You name it, it was there.
With nothing better to do we started filling up discarded fishing boxes and dragging them across the beach like sleds.
Thirty minutes later we had made a huge difference and felt rewarded for our effort. We had coffee sat on a bench looking out over ‘our’ now clean beach and it was from here we decided to take the initiative to do something on our patch at home. We felt the small amount of effort involved would not be a massive imposition considering all the fantastic places we have enjoyed whilst sea kayaking.
Adopt-a-Beach and Beachwatch are coastal environmental initiatives organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), involving local individuals, groups and communities in caring for their coastal environment.
Anyone in the UK can adopt their favorite stretch of coast and take part in annual or quarterly beach cleans and surveys to monitor litter throughout the year and campaign for cleaner seas. For more information about the Marine Conservation Society, please click on the following link: Marine Conservation Society Website
Ultimately, if word gets out and all sea kayakers could spend an hour or so occasionally clearing their favourite spot it can only be for the better, people and wildlife included.
We have now decided to adopt the small beach at Hele Bay, near Ilfracombe in North Devon,where we regularly launch from, which we arrange to clean up regularly. For history of our beach, please click on this link: The History of Hele Bay Website
Watch this space for further updates.
Clive Merrifield
