Beach cleaning is not only fun, it’s necessary. It is not a responsibility in a strict, regimented sense but it is our responsibility as a whole to work towards cleaner oceans and safe, protected coastline.
I live by the sea and when you live that close, the problems are obvious. You see for yourself the litter floating in the ocean when you dip in it. You find the rubbish nestled in the rocks and around the sea kale when you sit next to it and you spot it flying around in the wind when you stroll past on a seaside walk.
The Coffee Cup in Eastney has come up with a creative way to attract beach cleaners and to encourage everyone to help out. To beat the problems where their cafe resides, right on the seafront in Portsmouth, they offer a free hot drink with any bucket of litter collected.
It didn’t take long at all to fill a bucket kindly handed to us by the coffee cup team. With motivational comments before we set off, the staff were clearly engaged in the incentive and invested in it working to help keep the beach clean.
It was fun to walk around exploring the beach, finding shells and beach treasure along the way but it was more fun and fulfilling to feel like we had made a little difference, even a tiny one. A few less plastic bags tangled in fringing coastal hedge rows and far less cans buried in the stones.
I walked along with my daughter Samphire, too young at the moment to litter pick herself but not too young to notice what was going on. Every ounce of attention she paid will hopefully normalise doing this kind of thing and instill in her that it’s important.
A big thank you to the Coffee Cup for the incentive and bigger love to everyone who takes part. Together we will make a difference.
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