Dorset locals join the fight against plastic pollution for the Great British Beach Clean on Hengistbury Head

The Oceanarium’s event saw an impressive 11 volunteers descend onto Hengistbury Head on a heavy rainy day to support MCS’ ongoing mission to clear the UK’s beaches of plastic pollution and marine litter. Volunteers collected many litter items across the 100 metres stretch of beach, weighing a total of 3.5 kilos.  

Eleanor Richards said: “There was a great sense of community at this weekend’s Great British Beach Clean, with locals working together to clear Hengistbury Head of litter. Every year these events provide a fantastic opportunity for all of us to do something tangible about plastic pollution and seeing the volume of litter we cleared from Hengistbury Head was really eye opening. Thank you to everyone who took the time to help us clean and survey the beach, I hope to see you all next year for an even bigger beach clean.”  

The invaluable data gathered across the UK over the Great British Beach Clean weekend is used by the Marine Conservation Society to support its campaigns to develop policies which target plastic pollution and marine litter at source. Great British Beach Clean data was integral to the implementation of the 5p plastic carrier bag charge and has been used as evidence in the consultations for a UK wide Deposit Return Scheme.  

This year’s events mark 26 years of the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean, with all the data gathered at Hengistbury Head contributing not only to MCS’ dataset, but also to the records of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Locals have supported the fight against plastic pollution and marine litter on a local and global scale.  

Lizzie Prior, Beachwatch Officer said: “It was fantastic to see so many people coming together to clean-up beaches across the UK this weekend in support of the Great British Beach Clean. We’re thrilled to have the support of the Oceanarium and the local community who have provided us with valuable data which will inform our work over the next year. We hope that the beach clean events will motivate Bournemouth locals to head out onto their local beaches year-round and help keep the UK’s beaches beautiful.”  

MCS will share the results of this year’s Great British Beach Clean later this year.  

For more information please visit www.mcsuk.org