Successful end to seaside litter survey following Muckle donation

A year-long survey of litter on beaches within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) culminated with volunteers taking part in this year's Great British Beach Clean.

We have supported the volunteering initiative with a £2,000 grant, offsetting the costs of our firm’s carbon footprint through the Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF).

Wave of support

Since then Coast Care have recruited a small army of volunteers who have been out counting and recording every single piece of litter they have found over the last year. Over 450 volunteers have contributed in excess of 1500 hours of time cleaning beaches and completing surveys.

Laura Shearer and Anna Chouler from Coast Care have organised the surveys and Laura said: “The data will be analysed and compared to a similar survey in 2007, which will provide an insight into how the composition and amount of litter has changed in the last year.

“A report will be produced which will provide us with the data we need to target litter at source rather than waiting until it hits the beach before we do anything about it. ”

Stemming the tide

Andrew Davison OBE from Muckle LLP said: “Litter on beaches is a growing problem across the globe and the North East is no exception.

"This volunteering initiative not only helps clean our beaches today but the report findings will help to ensure they will be cleaner in the future and will be very valuable for activists and decision makers alike. We are very pleased as a local business to have been able to support it."

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