In a bid to help wildlife, Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is asking for help to clean-up the shocking amount of litter that has been washed up onto Chesil Beach after the recent storms and high tides.
To try and combat the litter – some of which is deadly to wildlife – the Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre will be hosting a beach clean on Saturday 25th January, starting at 11am. The Taste* café at the Chesil Centre is also offering an exclusive 10% discount on food and drink for those who are involved with the beach clean.
There has already been a huge effort made by concerned local people to clear away the litter, but there is still a lot of work to do along Chesil beach, which is 18 miles long.
Chesil Centre Manager, Emily Brown said, “Rubbish such as plastic, metal and fishing gear can be very harmful to birds if they become entangled in it and lots of wildlife, such as turtles, can ingest plastic. This beach clean is a chance to make a real difference and a good opportunity to get some fresh air and enjoy scenic views. We are pleased to be working with local organisations, and we are grateful to the Court Leet of Portland who has generously paid for a skip to take the litter away.”
Litter on our beaches is not only unsightly, but it can have a big impact on wildlife and the environment. Seagulls have been found by staff at the Chesil Centre with fishing line around their legs, which can seriously harm them if they are unable to feed properly. Fishing line and glass bottles can take 500 years to break down in the sea. Plastic bags, which are often found washed up on Dorset’s beaches, can take up to 450 years to disappear.
To join in with the post-storm beach clean, meet at the Chesil Centre on Portland at 11am. If you have any litter pickers, bags or gloves, please bring them along. For more information about the beach clean, visit https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/beach-clean-at-chesil
