ANYONE who loves their local beach is being encouraged to head for Seaton tomorrow (February 12), and be part of a national movement of volunteers.

The Looe Marine Conservation Group is teaming up with the 2 Minute Beach Clean campaign to host the event, which is taking place as part of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s “Love Your Beach” Valentines initiative.

Rob Freeman is South East Cornwall’s new ‘Guardian Angel’ for the 2 Minute Foundation. In his role, he’ll be looking after the beach cleaning stations you can find at Downderry, Seaton, Hannafore in Looe and Talland Bay – and spreading the word among local schools and the general public.

Inspire

“The 2 Minute Foundation was started by Martin Dorey in Bude in 2007 and is a registered charity that is devoted to cleaning up our planet two minutes at a time,” said Rob, who lives in the St Cleer area.

“Our aims are to see a world without plastic litter and pollution, and to inspire and enable people to change the way they interact with outdoor spaces.”

The ‘Love Your Beach’ Beach Clean at Seaton will start at 3.30pm. All equipment is provided: participants are encouraged to wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Other local beaches where you can take part in the Cornwall Wildlife Trust ‘Love Your Beach’ clean up are Polkerris near Fowey on Sunday (Feb 13) at 10am and Par Beach, also on Sunday at 10.30am.

Hundreds of people are expected to don their waterproofs and brave the elements at a total of 13 beaches across Cornwall from tomorrow through to Valentine’s Day (Monday Feb 14th)

Every year, huge winter storms cause large amounts of plastic and litter to wash up around Cornwall’s 400-mile coastline. In 2019 alone, 80,000kg of rubbish was collected from Cornish beaches, according to Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s State of Nature 2020 Report.

A CWT spokesperson said: “Everybody is welcome to take part in Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Love Your Beach Weekend. Members of the public are encouraged to join their nearest organised event where equipment will be provided.

“Beach goers can also do their own clean up; drawing or making a love heart, taking a picture and posting on social media using the hashtags #loveyourbeach and #yourshorenetwork to get involved.”

For more information about the events, visit www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/events

Love Your Beach 2022 is proudly funded and supported by South West Water and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Here’s a guide to all the Love Your Beach beach cleans around Cornwall:

Saturday 12th February:

• Harlyn Bay – 10am - Seven Bays Marine Group

• Redruth Town – 11am – Redruth Town Council and Plastic Free Redruth

• Marazion East Beach – 11am - Plastic Free Marazion and Mounts Bay Marine Group

• Crinnis Beach – 12pm - Three Bays Wildlife

• Seaton Beach – 3:30 - Looe Conservation Marine Group

 

Sunday 13th February:

• Holywell Bay – 9am - Holywell Bay Surf Life Saving Club

• Polkerris Beach – 10am - Friends of Fowey Estuary and 2 Minute Guardian Angel

• Par Beach – 10:30am - Friends of Par Beach

• Perranporth Beach/Dunes – 11am - Perranporth Marine Conservation Group and Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Dynamic Dunescapes project. A local sand artist will be joining the event to create a piece of beach art.

• Porthtowan Beach – 11am - St Agnes Marine Group and 2minute Beach Clean

 

Monday 14th February:

• Gwithian – 9:15am - CLASH and Creative Kernow

• Polzeath Beach – 9:30 - Polzealth Marine Conservation Group

• Porth Beach – 10:30am – Newquay Marine and Newquay Beach Care