Get involved in the big Arran beach clean-up

Organisations and people from across the island are joining forces over the next two weekends to clean Arran’s beaches.

The Arran-wide beach clean is part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean and, for the first time, will give Arran its own local data about the type and quantity of litter on its coastline. Think About Plastic-Arran (TAP) will collate the data for Arran before it is sent to the society to be added to national and international information banks.

Beach cleans are being organised by village organisations which regularly clean beaches, with TAP stepping in where dates have not been possible for some villages. COAST and the National Chamber Music Day are leading a novel beach clean with the plastic items found then being made into musical instruments (see below). Lamlash Improvements and Whiting Bay Improvements are also leading beach cleans. Arran Kayak Club will be collecting floating litter from the kayaks which will be accompanying competitors during their race around Holy Isle on September 22.

The beach clean events will kick off with a free, illustrated talk at 7.30pm on Friday September 14 at Lamlash Church Hall by Tara Proud of the Marine Conservation Society (Scotland) entitled Tackling Plastic Pollution in Scotland’s Seas. Coast- guard station officer Fiona Laing will introduce the evening with a short session on what not to pick up on Arran’s beaches which will be of interest to anyone who sets foot on the Arran coastline.

TAP chairwoman Dr Helen How said: ‘Arran is an island which is well-known for people working together. This is a great opportunity to make a difference and contribute to information collection which will help both Arran and contribute to the wider research base. NAC have been very supportive, and we are thrilled that the Marine Conservation Society has chosen to come to Arran for these events.’

Children must be accompanied by an adult.