More than 30 beach cleaning events are set to take place in Scotland later this month as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean.
Running from September 17 to 26 across the UK, the week-long event encourages volunteers to get out into the great outdoors and keep Britain’s coastal areas clear of rubbish.
Events have been organised from the Scottish Borders to Shetland at some of Scotland’s top beauty spots.
Volunteers can also give their time to the Source to Sea Litter Quest, which encourages participants to record the items of litter they find in their local area.
During last year’s Great British Beach Clean, more than 150,000 items of litter were collected by volunteers, filling 685 bags with 3132kg of rubbish.
PPE items were found on almost 30% of beaches, with plastic and polystyrene pieces the most common litter items collected last year.
However following the introduction of carrier bag charges across the UK, the Marine Conservation Society has found a 55% drop in single-use bags being found on beaches.
Lizzie Prior, beachwatch officer at the Marine Conservation Society said: “The Great British Beach Clean is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference.
“Not only do volunteers help keep the UK’s beaches beautiful and litter-free, they collect vital data on what’s polluting our environment.
“We’ve used data collected in the past to campaign for carrier bag charges and single-use plastic bans, all of which have led to a reduction in litter on our beaches.
“So why not get outside, join us on a beach clean and make a difference?”
Zoe Lyons, Marine Conservation Society ocean ambassador, said: “As an ocean-lover, I’m so pleased to be supporting the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean.
“The events offer plenty of opportunity to get involved and do something practical to help the state of our seas.
“Even if you don’t live near the sea, you can still help – by taking part in the charity’s Source to Sea Litter Quest.
“The inland litter picks collect information which will help the Marine Conservation Society understand how much of the litter on our beaches is making its way there from our villages, towns and cities far from the coast.”
Great British Beach Clean events taking place in Scotland
Friday, September 17
Peterhead Harbour, Aberdeenshire, 9.30am to 10.30am
Arbroath West Links, Angus, 10am to 4pm
Forvie National Nature Reserve, Aberdeenshire, 10am to 12pm
Fourth Barrier, Orkney, 1pm to 4pm
Dam of Hoxa, Orkney, 1pm to 2pm
Echna Loch Bay, Orkney, 1pm to 3pm
Weyland Bay, Orkney, 1pm to 2pm
Saturday, September 18
East Haven, Angus, 9.30am to 10.30am
Eyemouth Holiday Park, Scottish Borders, 10am to 11am
Lunderston Bay, Inverclyde, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Seafield Beach, Kirkcaldy, Fife, 11am to 1pm
Teithil Beach, Barcaldine, Argyll, 11am to 1pm
Embo Beach, Sutherland, 12pm to 1pm
Findhorn Beach, Moray, 1pm to 2pm
East Sands Beach, St Andrews, Fife, 2pm to 3pm
Sunday, September 19
Taing, Shetland, 10am to 12pm
Buckhaven Old Harbour, Fife, 11am to 2pm
Western Gailes, Ayrshire, 11am to 12pm
East Nairn Beach, Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park, Highlands, 12pm to 3pm
Stevenston Beach, North Ayrshire, 2.30pm to 4pm
Monday, September 20
Hopeton House, West Lothian, 10.20am to 12.30pm
Cullen Beach, Moray, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Wednesday, September 22
Main Street Beaches, Scalloway, Shetland, 11am to 1pm
Friday, September 24
Lismore Island, Argyll, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Saturday, September 25
Granton Brick Beach, Edinburgh, 9am to 1pm
Aberdeen Beach, Aberdeen, 10am to 12pm
Kiltearn Beach, Highlands, 10am to 11am
Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire, 10.30am to 11.30am
Prestonpans East Beach, East Lothian, 11am to 1pm
Badentarbat Bay, Highlands, 12pm to 3pm
Sunday, September 26
Aberdeen Beach, Aberdeen, 10am to 12pm
Spey Bay, Moray, 1pm to 3pm
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