Communities take part in Clean Coasts Week

Communities across Wales joined environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy last week (13–19 May) for Clean Coasts Week.

Keep Wales Tidy officers organised clean-ups across Wales, including an event on Cefn Sidan beach, to clear beaches of unwanted litter and debris. The campaign was sponsored by McDonald’s and staff from local restaurants worked alongside community groups, schools and businesses to make sure that local residents and visitors can enjoy a beautiful, litter free coastline. At the event, more than 90 people collected 50 bags of litter amounting to about a tonne altogether. Volunteers were treated to a buffet lunch provided by the Sidan Lounge restaurant as a thank you for taking part.

Robert Thomas, McDonald’s Operations Consultant in Carmarthenshire said: “McDonald’s has a long standing relationship with Keep Wales Tidy and we were delighted to support Clean Coasts Week here in Cefn Sidan.”

“It is important to set a good example in tackling litter and my restaurants conduct daily litter patrols in the surrounding areas. Unfortunately there are still a significant proportion of people who think it’s acceptable to drop litter – it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep our communities clean.

“With an enviable stretch of beautiful coast line, we must all work together to protect and maintain its beauty and continue to preserve our local environment here in Wales.”

The Principality boasts some spectacular beaches and a number have this year again received the internationally recognised Blue Flag which is administered in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy. The Lonely Planet travel guide also voted the Welsh coastline as the ‘Best Region’ on Earth to visit in 2012.

It’s a year since the opening of The Wales Coast Path, which stretches for 870 miles and provides a continuous walking route around the whole of Wales. Wales is the only country in the world where it is possible to walk the entire length of the coastline and Clean Coasts Week gives people the opportunity to give the Wales Coast path a spring clean before the busy summer season.

Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Lesley Jones comments:

“The coastline is very important for Wales as it can boost local economies and the tourism industry and allows us to showcase our beautiful country. Keep Wales Tidy organised Clean Coast Week to ensure that we maintain the high standard of our coastline. I’m glad that people from across Wales joined us to spend a few hours at their nearest coastal area to ensure that locals and visitors can continue to enjoy our natural surroundings.”

Photos from last week’s Clean Coast Week events can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keep_wales_tidy/sets/72157633446287613/