Beach walk and clean-up
A wreck walk and beach cleanup takes place on Saturday
14 July and the public is invited to join in. The aim of the walk is to entice the general public to actively enjoy the unique beauty of the coastline and get involved in its sustainability.
Ian Johnson, a passionate conservationist and photographer who recently completed the walk and was dismayed by the amount of pollution along the Garden Route coastline, decided to get involved. "It was disturbing to notice the amount of plastic bags and bottles, fishing tackle and man-made waste strewn across the beach. The chronic pollution has a highly detrimental impact on our marine biodiversity", says Ian. Visgraat Restaurant at Glentana, in cooperation with the Mossel Bay Municipality, has arranged large bags for the cleanup effort. Visgraat will provide a cap and string bag with 500ml water and a treat for participants.
After the outing, a light meal (roosterkoek with choice of filling) and a soft drink will be available at R50. Glentana is in the process of applying for Blue Flag status of the main beach, an eco label awarded to beaches with high standards that focus on the environmental management of the coastline and coastal waters. "Hopefully, this effort will be the first of many towards inspiring environmental consciousness and the role that everyone has to play in conserving our oceans and beaches," say the organisers.
Local residents and holidaymakers are invited to join the walk and help make a difference. The hike is about 3km one way and starts at 09:00, to make the most of low tide at 10:25. Participants are asked to be there at 08:45. The 3-hour walk is rated easy / average and starts and ends at Visgraat Restaurant, Main Beach, Glentana. Bring comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen. To find out more about the walk, contact Ingrid Mech at ingridmech@gmail.com.