Member Article

They came, they saw, they dusted!

Following on from the success of its Dusting the Dunes event last year to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday, Northumberland Wildlife Trust issued a call out for volunteers, to join it in another clean-up at two of its reserves on Druridge Bay - Creswell Foreshore and Creswell Pond.

Staff members were overwhelmed by the number of volunteers who turned up including teams from Northumberland Fisheries Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA), Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Balfour Beatty and members of the public who came forward and, the amount of rubbish collected.

In a little over two hours, 218.6 kg of rubbish, including lorry tyres, large petrol and oil cans, dustbins, pallets, ropes, metal shelving and a carpet was collected.

Most upsetting was a fulmar seabird which was wrapped up in a fishing line which had hooked into its mouth and which was attached by more fishing line to a seagull.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust and its supporters are committed to keeping Druridge Bay looking its best by regularly collecting hundreds of kilograms of rubbish along the coastline. Litter that is dropped at the beach can trap or hurt wild animals, as was discovered during this litter pick, as well as injuring dogs when they are running along the dunes.

Aurelie Bohan, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Living Seas Officer, who organised the beach clean-up said: “Even a few years ago, litter was not the problem that it is today, especially along our coastline. Food packaging, plastic bottles and takeaway meal trays have all contributed to a growing menace that affects our wildlife, streets, countryside and coastline, so please take your rubbish home with you.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Bishop .