Fast food staff spring clean the dunes

Litter-picking managers and staff spent the hottest day of the year so far, making sure the dunes were rubbish-free for human and wildlife visitors.

Adie Leddy, business manager at Squires Gate restaurant, said: “The idea of days like this is to build McDonald’s relationships with the community and give something back.

“My colleague Dawn Alderson, business manager at the Cherry Tree branch, saw the Wildlife Trust was cleaning up the dunes – so we volunteered as part of our Love Where You Live campaign. This is our second time on the dunes.”

Dawn and Steve Henley, manager of Lytham McDonald’s, were among the 30 volunteers – from restaurants at Squires Gate, Cherry Tree Road, Bank Hey Street, Blackpool South Promenade, Rigby Road and Lytham.

Lynn Ashton, Lancashire Wildlife Trust dunes project officer, said: “The beach had been cleaned by the council, so we sent the McDonald’s team into the dunes, which made things quite hard because of the terrain.

“The fact 30 people turned up for a day’s volunteering, shows they are committed to working with the trust and community. I would like to thank them for their hard work.”

The dunes are a haven for wildlife – including nesting birds, insects, mammals and amphibians.

They also act as a natural barrier, protecting their interior and homes further back from storms.

Anyone interested in corporate volunteering with the Wildlife Trust can email [email protected]