M&S encourages local community to register for north coast beach clean

MARKS & Spencer (M&S) is calling on its customers and employees to don their wellies and volunteer to help their local community by cleaning the beach at Castlerock.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Mar 2013, 09:17 BST

With the support of the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and the Canal & River Trust (CRT), this year’s M&S Big Beach Clean-up will take place at 113 beaches across the UK including Castlerock. The event will take place on Friday 26th April and it is hoped that many local people will get involved.

The target is to clear more than 15 tonnes of litter – more than the weight of a double decker bus – from all 113 beaches.

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According to the MCS there are two pieces of litter on every metre of our coastline, most of it plastic. The harmful impacts of plastic on the UK’s marine life are becoming ever more apparent and the MCS is concerned that plastic pieces are found in the digestive systems of fish including Whiting, John Dory and Gurnard.

Last year over 6,000 people (4,000 M&S employees and 2,000 M&S customers) volunteered and collected 3,200 bin bags full of litter after cleaning over 100km of beaches and canals. The bags weighed in at over 11.5 tonnes. This included 12,800 wrappers and 2,850 tin cans.

Simon Lucas, Head of Region for M&S in Northern Ireland said: “Our Big Beach Clean-up is a great way for customers and M&S colleagues to volunteer, help their local community and protect our precious marine life. It’s a great fun, outdoor activity that gives our customers and staff the opportunity to help the environment and their community.

“We are encouraging anyone who wishes to attend the Castlerock beach clean to register in advance at www.mcsuk.org/foreverfish to receive a money-off at M&S voucher on the day*.”

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The M&S Big Beach Clean-up is part of M&S’ Forever Fish campaign which is funded by the profits from the 5p carrier bag charge in M&S foodhalls. Since its introduction in 2008, the charge has reduced carrier bag use by 78 per cent and raised over £4 million for charity.

Customers can find out more www.marksandspencer.com/plana and follow the event on twitter (@marksandspencer or search #beachclean) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/marksandspencer).

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