Beach Cleans
As an environmentally conscious group we are involved in other activities as well as the Compost Collection. One of these is helping to keep the foreshore North and South of Johnshaven free of potentially dangerous litter and make it somewhere to be proud of. Volunteers are always welcome to join us, please check for dates on the Home page or our Facebook page.
We carry out 3 beach cleans a year to help keep the coastline around Johnshaven free of litter and protect wildlife. During beach cleans we survey the rubbish collected as part of the Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch campaign. The survey method has recently been changed to make country-wide comparisons easier and we have updated our Facts and Figures page to match. In the 12 years we've been doing this we've collected over 60,000 items of litter!!!
The MCS has also provided us with ability to carry out a Risk Assessment for volunteers working on these cleans. You will find a copy of the form on the Downloads page. You can also get the Montrose Basin Tide Tables there.
The MCS 2019 Beach Clean report shows that collections in Scotland picked up an average of 492 items per 100m, which compares with a UK average of 558. Our local average over the 15 years we've been recording results is just under 219. As we've found, the largest amount of litter picked up is still pieces of plastic or polystyrene, at 70% of the total, but you will all be aware of initiatives aimed at reducing this, and certainly the Scottish Government's levy on plastic bags is making a difference with reductions in the amount since its introduction. The MCS 2019 report is available to download here.
Some past photographs below...
Summer 2022
Spring 2021
Individual clean ups were held by small groups because of Covid restrictions. We would welcome more photos if you have them
September 2020
July 2020
June 2019
June 2018
March 2018 at Lathallan
March 2017 at Seagreens
September 2016 - Just some of the 34 helpers
June 2016
March 2016
September 2014
Another good day! Not so much rubbish though, which is good.
June 2014
Nice day again, with 14 people, and some interesting rubbish
March 2014
One of the best ever! The sun shone, we had 28 people of all ages. Here are just a few photographs, including tucking in to lunch afterwards in the Village Hall, courtesy of the Heritage Society ladies.
Here is a picture from the March 2013 Beach Clean at Seagreens - in the rain!
...and here's another one showing how much we actually collect: