Southerndown beach in the Vale of Glamorgan is one of nine beaches across the UK to be cleaned as part of the “Big Beach Clean”. The competition run by Fairy, Proctor and Gamble and Keep Britain Tidy asked the public to vote online for their favourite beach to receive a cleanup event.
Taking place on the 9 November at Southerndown beach, the event included a range of activities showing the importance of clean and healthy beaches and the effects of marine litter.
Organised by Keep Wales Tidy, the day involved a litter pick on the beach with members of the local community and pupils from St Brides Major C/W Primary School. During the event, attendees were encouraged to take photographs showcasing the beauty of clean beach and enter a Keep Wales Tidy photography competition. A judging panel will decide the winning photograph and it will be added to Keep Wales Tidy’s website.
https://twitter.com/KWT_VOG/status/1061950087771967489
Keep Wales Tidy Education staff also hosted a marine litter workshop, asking pupils of St Brides Primary to think how marine litter ends up in our seas and on our beaches and to make a pledge.
Tom Ashmore, project officer for the Vale of Glamorgan for Keep Wales Tidy said;
“It’s fantastic to have Southerndown in the top 9 beaches of The Big Beach Clean competition. We wanted to use this opportunity to highlight the devastating effects of marine litter while engaging with the local community and primary school to take action. I can’t wait to judge the photographs from our competition which will be used to inspire people to respect and preserve beaches across in Wales.”
St Brides CW Primary school said;
“As one of the first schools to be awarded the Platinum Eco Flag in Wales, we were delighted to participate in this event. We believe strongly that pupils should learn to look after our beautiful environment and understand why it is so important.”
