The Great British Beach Clean is happening at these four Merseyside beaches

By Dawn Collinson

The Great British Beach Clean is happening at four Merseyside beaches this weekend as part of a nationwide effort to get rid of rubbish on the sands.

Every September, thousands of people head to their nearest coastlines armed with litter pickers and bin bags to take part in the Great British Beach Clean, organised by the Marine Conservation Society.

On every clean, volunteers are asked to do a litter survey, recording all the items of rubbish they find along a 100m stretch. This data is then used by the Marine Conservation Society to campaign for change, reducing the pollution in seas which is killing wildlife.

So far, the data has been used to make a positive impact including the introduction of the plastic bag charge, banning microplastics in personal care products, better wet wipe labelling, and supporting a tax on single-use plastic items.

Last year’s Great British Beach Clean picked up an average of 385 pieces of litter for every 100 metres of beach, although the good news is there’s been a 55% drop in the number of plastic carrier bags found since the bag charge was introduced in shops.

Anyone can volunteer to get involved in the clean-ups, and you don’t usually need to take equipment because most is provided.

Here’s where and when the Great British Beach Clean will be happening in Merseyside …

New Brighton Beach, Saturday September 17, 10.30am to 12.30pm

There’s space for 50 volunteers to take part in the New Brighton Beach Clean and litter survey, which will meet at 10.30am at the entrance of the beach, next to Perch Rock car park on Marine Promenade. All ages are welcome, under-16s just need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The beach clean organiser will provide most equipment, but volunteers should bring a pair of strong gloves or gardening gloves if possible and wear sturdy shoes. The clean will take place along a three-mile stretch of beach.

West Kirby North, Saturday September 17, 3pm to 6pm

This event can accommodate up to 100 volunteers, cleaning up a stretch of 8.6miles, and all ages and dogs are welcome! The meeting point is the main entrance to West Kirby beach, as you enter onto the sand. Anyone planning to take part is asked to bring litter pickers if they have them – although Click Consult have provided some – gloves and a bag for putting rubbish in. As with all the beach events, sturdy shoes are a good idea. The group will make its way across the beach, through the sand dunes and down to Red Rocks.

Hightown, Sunday September 18, 11am to 2pm

There’s a Marine Conservation Big Beach Clean happening along 8.3miles of coast starting off from Blundellsands Sailing Club car park off Thornbeck Avenue, Hightown on Sunday. Up to 25 volunteers can take part in this one and all equipment will be supplied. The aim of the event is to help clean and record the debris from the tide line to make the area’s marine environment safe and clean for beach users and the local marine life.

Formby (Freshfields), Sunday September 18, 10am to 1pm

A Beachwatch event is taking place at Formby, meeting at the beach car park by the Marine Conservation Society flags. Registration is needed, and no equipment will be provided for this one so volunteers are asked to bring their own gloves or litter picks. People are also asked to use public transport, car share or walk if possible because there’s limited parking available. Freshfield train station is one mile from the site. 

To register for the Great British Beach Clean, click here.