BEACH Buddies will venture south this weekend, with a volunteer beach cleaning event, gathering at Fisher’s Hill at 10.30am on Sunday morning, July 5th.
The date July 5th is the traditional date for Tynwald Day. However, the real Tynwald Day (the day of the official ceremony) will be July 6th this year. It’s only when July 5th falls on a Sunday that Tynwald Day is switched to a Monday.
Enough of the history lesson(!). On Sunday we will meet at Fisher’s Hill, and we expect that there will be a pretty big turn-out, so some volunteers will be asked to drive slightly further along the road to clean different stretches of beach.
Another reminder; please be aware that it’s bird nesting season all around the Isle of Man’s coastline at this time of the year, and that there may possibly be nesting birds anywhere.
If you get close to seabirds and they are agitated (and this applies anywhere on the coast) then this is a sign they are protecting nests, so please do not approach them, and give them a very wide berth, even if there is rubbish that needs collecting.
Because of this, we also ask that volunteers do not bring their dogs for the next few weeks. Thanks for your understanding on this issue.
We have an immaculate record with regard to the non-disturbance of nesting birds, going back to 2006, and it’s vital that we maintain this ad infinitum.
We’ve had lots of new volunteers join us in recent weeks, and anyone who has not taken part with us before will be made very welcome. No need to register – no fees. We have all the equipment and will remove the rubbish collected afterwards. It would be a great help if volunteers brought their own gloves, given the current situation.
• Beach Buddies is sponsored by FIM Capital and receives annual funding from DEFA. www.beachbuddies.net
