Hi Clean Coasts Group

How has your 2020 been so far? After a nice break the Clean Coasts team was back to work, with plenty of exciting projects for the new year. We can’t wait to share them with you!

Volunteers were also out and about doing their bits for our coast and we were delighted to be back reading about all the great clean-ups that took place over the holidays and through the month of January. 

Keep reading to find out what has been going on.

 

We want to hear your opinion

The Clean Coasts programme aims to support groups through education, provision of clean-up kit, events and regional Clean Coasts Officers. We want to hear from you so that we can improve our work and give our groups even more support. 

We are giving away a #2minutebeachclean reusable bag and a pair of gloves to help you in your next beach clean. Click below to complete our survey and be in for a chance to be one of the lucky winners of the draw.

Complete the survey
 

Plunging into the new year…

Following the enormous success and popularity in 2019, First Fortnight Festival, Clean Coasts in conjunction with Grown hosted another Sea Swimming event on 11th of January at 11am on Sandycive Strand. We were overwhelmed with the participation and support we got.

Sea swimming can have a positive impact on our mental and physical health and it’s a great opportunity to reconnect with yourself and enjoy the views of our beautiful coastline.

 
Here is a short video from the day!
Take a look at the gallery
 

On the road again

It’s that time of the year again! Clean Coasts Roadshows are back and they will run between January to April in coastal regions around Ireland.

Roadshows are a series of free events for coastal communities that are a mix of talks and workshops covering topics such as biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife, sustainable developments, work by local groups and organisations. Keep a look at our event page to find out when the next roadshow near you is taking place!

Bring me to the event page
 

Zero Waste Festival

On January 25th, we went to the Zero Waste Festival Exhibition at the Science Gallery in Dublin. 

Check out this video we made to show some of the ideas we came across to avoid waste and tackle plastic pollution.

 
Zero Waste Festival at the Science Gallery in Dublin
 

We are all connected

Registrations for the National Spring Clean programme are now open!

National Spring Clean is a fellow environmental Education Unit programme, which runs throughout the month of April and brings together communities throughout the country to tackle the problem of litter in local areas. Beaches and coastal areas are included in this initiative and groups will get a free clean up pack if you register.  

Register online
 

A throwback to last month

Do you remember the Cully & Sully giveaway for a €1,000 bursary for one of our Big Beach Clean groups? 

In December, we met Geraldine McBreaty, a representative of  the Big Community Clean up Group, Donegal who were awarded the prize to continue the incredible work they have been involved with in their community in 2020.

Big Community Clean-up Group Donegal are a dedicated group of people in the Inver, Frosses, Mountcharles area who come together regularly to clean up the local beaches and roads. They have been part of various clean ups over the past number of years and have made a big difference to the local area.

Well done!

 

Happy stories from January

This month, in our Clean Coasts blog section, we told the story of Marc McCarthy, a volunteer based in Schull, Co. Cork, who loves the sea and does all he can to protect this part of the coast.
Did you know Marc was also a shortlisted nominee for our Ocean Hero Awards? Click below to read the blog!
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Read the full story
 

Our followers really loved this initiative from Tramore Eco Group. This is such a great way to remind people that litter dropped in towns and cities ends up in our sea. 
So always remember to dispose of your waste properly! 
Is there a similar initiative in your town? Tell you about it!
 

Maharees Heritage and Conservation started the year 2020 with a great clean-up: in one hour, 24 people had 16 bags of marine litter taken off the beach near Magherabeg Cut. You guys are awesome!
 

Clean Coasts Ballynamona started 2020 organising a massive beach clean with almost 40 people turning up for it! Great job!
 

Donegal Dragons organised a very successful beach clean on 4th of January at Murvagh beach, Donegal. This is something the club does every year to raise awareness of our beautiful coast and this year some children came along too. They were super trooper litter picker uppers! 
 

Coastal Projects

Clean Coasts works with businesses throughout Ireland on corporate volunteering days. These businesses support our Clean Coasts grant by ways of a donation for the day. We are hoping to work more closely with Clean Coasts groups in 2019 to support any much needed coastal work that could be completed by our corporate volunteers. The groups vary in size from 10 to 30 and would be delighted to help with any projects that there may be at your adopted beach. Please contact us at cleancoasts@eeu.antaisce.org if you have any suitable projects in mind. 

 

Do you have a coastal story?

The Clean Coasts Blog is a collection of stories that touches on the experience of Clean Coasts staff and the coast. There stories vary from finding fossils on Sligo beaches to their experience of cold water swimming. We would love to hear your stories which will be showcased on our social media platforms and website. If you have a story to share or would like to write a piece on becoming a Clean Coasts group or any other experience you would like to share. please let us know. We are looking for short pieces using your own voice. 

Check out our blog stories