Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed the launch of the Marine Conservation Society’s call for volunteers to participate in this year’s Great British Beach Clean.

The annual UK-wide event, running this year from the 17 – 26 September, sees volunteers coming together to conduct clean-ups of local beaches. They also collect data on the litter they find during the beach clean to help inform future policy change.

Supporting the call for the volunteers, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“The South of Scotland boasts many of Scotland’s finest beaches. However, while beaches across the region regularly win awards for their cleanliness and facilities, it takes a lot of hard work by councils, community groups and local residents to help maintain them to such a high standard.

“Regular beach clean-ups are a crucial part of this year-round ‘unseen’ work. The Marine Conservation Society plays an important role in this and has just issued a call for volunteers to take part in its annual Great British Beach Clean, running this year from the 17 – 26 September.

“The Great British Beach Clean is more than just a clean up. Every year the amazing volunteers make a note of the litter they collect, sharing the data with the charity, which is then used to help influence important policy changes. I hope that more local people and groups will get involved in this year’s events and help keep our beaches as beautiful as possible.”