Join the Litter Free Coast

Christchurch Borough Council is asking people to join the Litter Free Coast and Sea Christchurch campaign and help to keep local beaches and marine environment free from litter.

Regular beach cleans are held on Friars Cliff beach and the latest one, held on 8 January, collected 1,646 items of litter, the most common being pieces of plastic.

Litter left on beaches can get washed into the sea, harming wildlife and damaging fishing and boating equipment.

The Litter Free Coast and Sea campaign is urging people to help stop litter collecting on beaches.

Abi Meharg, beaches and open spaces officer at Christchurch Council said, “If people are spending a day at the beach, then we’re asking them to follow the three Bs to help stop litter collecting:

• Bags: use and reuse ‘bags for life’ to carry snacks
• Bins: put rubbish in a bin or take it home
• Bottles: use the recycling points at Mudeford Quay, Friars Cliff, Highcliffe Castle Beach and Highcliffe Beach for any plastic drinks bottles used or found along the beach.

“We’re also encouraging people to organise a group of willing volunteers to help litter pick on one of our beaches. We’ll provide advice and any equipment needed.”

If anyone would like to arrange a date for a group to hold an event on one of Christchurch’s beaches or to take part in the campaign, contact the beaches and open spaces team on 01202 495229 or email beaches@christchurchandeastdorset.gov.uk.