Tireless team pick up piles of rubbish to keep beach tidy
120583_BEACH_CLEAN_18/2/12 (l-r) Sue Loveridge, Chris Telling, Virginia Bazlington, Garnet Telling, Margaret Hocking and Peter Loveridge. Hayling Coastal Conservation Group clean Hayling Island Beach of litter and rubbish. Picture: Allan Hutchings (120583-280)
IT was a job that required plenty of enthusiasm and an eagle eye.
Dedicated volunteers braved the windy weather at the weekend to scour Hayling beach for litter.
More than 10 bags of rubbish were collected in just a few hours by members of the Hayling Coastal Conservation Group, a new team of people who are committed to helping conserve Hayling Island’s biodiversity.
Volunteers collected plastic bags, wrappers, cans and bottles that have been discarded on the beach.
While litter is unsightly to humans, it can have more serious consequences for fish, birds and seals, said Virginia Bazlinton, a member of the conservation group.
The 66-year-old, who teaches English as a foreign language, said: ‘If it gets into the sea, wildlife can swallow it.
‘We picked up bits of rope and fishing line and it can get tangled round birds.
‘It’s important to pick these things up. It shouldn’t be there.’
The group concentrated their efforts on Sinah Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an important habitat for the south of England.
The unique coastal strip features various types of grassland habitat, mobile dunes, heath and saltmarsh that are home to many species of rare plants.
The work of the conservation group has included coppicing gorse growing in the area.
This allows other species of plant that are native to Hayling Island – such as the rare Childing Pink – to grow as there is more light getting through to ground level.
Other work being done by the group includes bat hunting, planting trees along the Hayling Billy Path and counting the different number of animal species at the Hayling oyster beds.
The group is being supported by the national conservation group BTCV, which last year launched a project to train local people into becoming beach wardens.
Mrs Bazlinton, who lives in Sidlesham Close, Eastoke, said: ‘I enjoy going out in the fresh air and doing something to improve the environment.
‘Also it’s the camaraderie between the group.
‘We are all like-minded people who enjoy doing the same thing.
‘We’re just ordinary people who do ordinary jobs and the group is open to anybody.’
For more information about the group call 07708 281702.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 10 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
rose tinted twits
Monday, March 5, 2012 at 06:31 PMComment removed by moderator
snapdog
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 07:30 AM@8 your comment reported. thank you what an unsavoury person you are!
rose tinted twits
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:32 AMComment removed by moderator
snapdog
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:56 PM@1 sarcasm is the lowest form of wit...
JAF
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 04:07 PMWell done to the group.... but I wish there were more people willing to litter pick in the woodlands and open spaces where we live - not just along beaches. Green Gym (that's what I call it) - gets you out in the fresh air doing something constructive. People need to recognize this country has a litter problem and something needs to change.....people like Post 1 (Rose tinted twits) just add to the problem......making fun of people doing something useful while he sits in the pub drinking his pints? Hope he trips over a few empty cans on his way home!
Parkie Leggit
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 02:06 PMBy definition most people who walk along a beach at anytime are the type of people that would want to help with this kind of activity so why does this have to be a one off. Why aren't there facilities to pick up a litter bag and maybe some gloves at focal points along all the beaches?. You'd probably find many willing helpers throughout the year who could stop the situation getting so bad in the first place.
lang1
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 12:39 PMPost 1 - I am suprised an ill educated pillock like you could string that sentence together........i bet you are exhausted now! Well done to all the volunteers, its nice to know that there are still community minded people out there that actually care.
spectre
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 10:25 AMpost 1 if everyone was as community minded as these folks there wouldnt be a need to clean the beache but sadly there are too many like you that prefer leave it to others to clean up the mess .
The Watcher....
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 09:40 AM@1 - So what have you contributed to your local community lately?
rose tinted twits
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 08:27 AMcan you imagine going for a drink with these lot 4 tap waters, 1 lemonade and half a bitter for the woman with the tash.................
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