MCS Beachwatch and FSC Slapton are bringing together volunteers for a beach clean on Slapton Sands this month.

For the past three years, the Field Studies Council Slapton and the Marine Conservation Society have been working together to raise awareness of marine pollution and getting volunteers together to keep our beaches clean.

This year, FSC Slapton will be working not only with the MCS, but also promoting a Great British Beach Clean on Saturday, April 23, linked to Radio 1’s one million hours campaign.

Beach litter is at the highest level since records began. Litter is swamping our oceans and is washing up on our beaches. It kills wildlife, looks disgusting, is a hazard to our health and costs millions to clear up.

There are now nearly 2,000 items of rubbish for every kilometre on a beach and plastic litter on beaches has increased 135 per cent since 1994. Plastic never biodegrades. It just breaks down into ever-smaller pieces but does not disappear.

Litter comes from many sources - the public, fishing activities, sewage pipes and shipping, but it is all preventable.

Many people already collect litter from beaches whenever they visit them and bin it responsibly, but unfortunately it doesn’t make headlines and an event like this does, so if you have even half an hour to spare, come along to the FSC Beach Activity Trailer in the memorial car park, Slapton Sands, and help them with the clean-up.

The South Hams is already on the map for caring about our environment so let’s try to make that presence felt even more. Rubbish bags and disposable gloves will be provided and free parking will be available in each of the beach car parks for all volunteers.