It’s that sunny time of year where the crisp sea air is glorious, but why not help maintain the beach’s natural appeal by joining a beach clean-up?
Whether you’re an avid beach cleaner or a novice, there are so many ways you can get involved with beach conservation around Kent’s coast.
Have you heard of the #2minutebeachclean? Look out for the signposts at The Isle of Thanet’s beaches, which are encouraging beach-goers to spare two minutes of their time to clean the coastline. Each board contains all the information and equipment you will need to clean the beach. It’s litter-ally so simple to make a difference to our beaches, so give it a go! Who knows, you could even treat yourself to an indulgent ice-cream after all your hard work or visit one of Thanet’s amazing award-winning beaches.
Join the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean and clear up as a community at beautiful Birchington-on-Sea and Pegwell Bay. Litter sticks, hoops and bags will be provided but take along your garden gloves and wear weather appropriate clothing (because we all know what those September days can be like!) Little ones can come along too, but must be supervised by a responsible adult.
Sat 18 Sept, 10.30am (2hrs) Plum Pudding, Birchington
Meet: Outside Minnis Bay Brasserie, Birchington CT7 9QP. More details can be found here.
Sat 18 Sept, 2.30pm (2hrs) Pegwell Bay, Cliffsend (CT12 5HY)
Meet: on the beach below former hoverport access road. More details can be found here.
Jump21 have organised a clean-up of Whitstable’s popular beach, starting outside The Old Neptune pub. They will supply everything you need from bags, gloves and pickers, but remember to put on your suitable footwear for a morning on the pebbles. Why not finish with a well-deserved drink at The Marine Hotel, overlooking Tankerton beach and admiring the cleaned up shores, or meander down into the town for some of Whitstable’s famous delicious oysters as a tasty treat.
Now the work's done lets have some fun!
Photo by @clunkinmarvellous
Head down to Britain’s only desert beach at secluded Dungeness for a morning of litter picking with the Lydd Rangers. By cleaning up the beach, you’ll be helping secure Dungeness' special statuses as a national nature reserve (NNR), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay. Remember to bring your own gloves and litter picker if you have one, and sign up to their emails to be notified about the full details a week before the event.
If you take just a short walk from Sheerness Train Station to Garrison Point Beach on 24th September, you’ll find the annual beach clean happening on this shingle beach. Remember to bring your appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear for this one, and your own gloves too.
Why not stay a little while and bask in the sun? Or meander along the shoreline and the take in the inspiring sights of the endless sea. If you don’t fancy going alone you can always bring a friend... the more the merrier!
