Show your love for our beaches

There are 10 volunteer groups arranging up to 25 beach clean events a month on the Fylde coast – and they’re encouraging new members to join them.

Last year, over 8,000 bags of litter were collected by volunteers from the Fylde – that’s the same weight as 10 double decker buses!

Two new groups have been established by LOVEmyBEACH in Fleetwood and St Annes.

Beach cleans are a great way to get active in 2018, with 78 per cent of volunteers saying their physical activity had increased as a result. Sandra Pittman, from the St Annes BeachCare group, said: “This is an enormously rewarding practical activity – it always makes me feel better for doing it!”

Another volunteer added: “It has helped me a lot with my health and I feel happier too.”

Members say it’s also extremely sociable and allows you to meet new people. One volunteer said: “It creates a sense of friendship, wellbeing and understanding. It is effortless, sociable and worthwhile and non-competitive”.

Beach cleans may be in your interest if you’re an animal lover too.

Fylde Beach Care Officer Emma Whitlock said: “It’s important to keep our beaches clean and safe for residents, tourists and wildlife.

“There have been several injuries to children caused from litter here on the Fylde coast, and the RSPCA receives 14 calls a day across the UK about animals affected by litter; it’s not hard to see it doesn’t belong on the beach.”

If you’re interested in joining the new groups, St Annes group meet at 10am on Thursdays at St Annes North Beach car park.

The Fleetwood group’s next clean up is on Saturday, January 20 with additional events scheduled on February 17 and March 17.

Volunteers can meet at the Lower Light House on the Esplanade in Fleetwood opposite the North Euston Hotel, at 10.30am on the Saturday morning.

For more information visit the LOVEmyBeach website.