Bracklesham Bay clean up deemed a big success

, 19 July 2018
Bracklesham Bay clean up deemed a big success
© Louise Collins

Bracklesham Bay was given a deep clean last Wednesday [11 July] as volunteers from Southern Co-op were out in force with Sussex Wildlife Trust.

The Sussex beach was the fourth of five to be overhauled as Southern Co-op carried out a series of beach cleans across the south as part of Co-operatives Fortnight.

The national awareness fortnight, aims to show how we can achieve more together than we can in isolation. It highlights how each person’s contribution, however small, helps towards achieving a bigger overall goal and a greater change for good.

Both colleagues and members of Southern Co-op joined in with the beach clean up and scoured the area for disregarded rubbish. 

Gemma Lacey, Director of Sustainability and Communications at Southern Co-op, said: “We always try and do something during Co-operatives Fortnight which makes a difference in our local community as well as promoting working co-operatively.

“We wanted to get involved in marine conversation and combat issues around plastics. There have been a lot of local concerns about rubbish along our shore lines so we thought this opportunity was perfect.

“It was a hot day but everyone battled on. We encourage our colleagues to volunteer throughout the year and are very proud of everyone who took part this fortnight to make a difference to our local beach.

“We will also continue to raise awareness of the need to responsibly use and dispose of plastic items which will help to keep our beaches clean in the future.”

Through partnerships with The Wildlife Trusts and CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) Hampshire, Southern Co-op is creating opportunities for colleagues and members to get actively involved in protecting and promoting our local wildlife and countryside.

Wildlife Trusts across the south have been a key partner for Southern Co-op over the last ten years to help families get outside and explore their local wild neighbourhoods.

The Wildlife Trusts are also current campaign partners of the Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’. This initiative addresses four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.

Sarah Ward, Living Seas Officer at the Sussex Wildlife Trust said: “Beach cleaning is a fundamental approach to reducing plastic pollution in our seas and on our beaches and it’s really great that the Southern Co-op is encouraging its staff to get involved.

“On Wednesday 11th June, 11 members of Southern Co-op staff joined Sussex Wildlife Trust for a beach clean at Bracklesham Bay, collecting a total of 153 individual pieces of litter, weighing 2.9Kg; 46% of their findings was plastic.

“Their efforts have prevented this litter to continue to pollute the sea and will feed into a national dataset on beach litter – well done everyone!’”

The five beach cleans which took place for Co-op Fortnight were:

  • Portishead on 27 June with Avon Wildlife Trust
  • Berron and Brean Beaches in Burnham-On-Sea on 28 June with Somerset Wildlife Trust
  • Hayling Island on 28 June with Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust
  • Bracklesham Bay on 11 July with Sussex Wildlife Trust
  • Chesil Beach on 13 July with Dorset Wildlife Trust
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