VOLUNTEERS CLEAN-UP WITH M&S
– More than 150kg rubbish collected at M&S Big Beach Clean-up 2014 –
Over 200 local volunteers descended on Fisherrow Sands in Musselburgh last week to take part in Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) Big Beach Clean-up. M&S customers and employees were joined by Provost Ludovic Broun-Lindsay, Councillor John McNeil, Musselburgh Rotary Club, the Prince’s Trust and other local community groups to help free the beach from rubbish and protect the area’s marine life.
The event is run in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and litter pickers collected everything from wrappers, tin cans and pieces of rope to more unusual items such as 40 shoe soles and car tyres. More than 30 bags of rubbish were collected from Fisherrow beach, weighing in at a staggering 150kg.
Elaine Anderson, store manager at M&S Edinburgh Kinnaird said: “We were absolutely delighted with the turn-out for this year’s Big Beach Clean-up and would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to help tidy Fisherrow Sands. The clean-up is all about bringing the local community together to help protect marine life and the environment, and it was fantastic to see so many people working together, having fun and supporting such a great cause.”
Sheryl Skelton, is team leader for the Prince’s Trust in Dalkeith, which works with young people to provide them with employability skills. Around 10 volunteers for the organisation took part in today’s beach clean. Sheryl said: “Our young people joined the beach clean today as part of their team certificate course. Part of the course involves working with different groups, so the event provided the perfect opportunity to do this. We all really enjoyed taking part and it was great to see such a big turn out.”
East Lothian Provost, Ludovic Broun-Lindsay said: “Fisherrow Sands is used by the local community, visitors and tourists across the year, which is why it is so important that we all take an interest in making sure that the beach continues to be an enjoyable place for people to come. It’s fantastic to see so much litter collected so a big well done to everyone who took part. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it!”
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. This year, activities took place across 95 beaches and 45 canals in the UK between 24thand 30th April.
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