HIGH speed winds and rainy weather failed to dampen the spirits of volunteers who took part in a special beach clean to celebrate the Friends of Berrow Beach’s first anniversary.

On Saturday (March 9), around 30 volunteers took part in the group’s third beach clean of the year and recovered sacks full of plastic debris and items including a gas canister and a lightbulb.

The clean-up was a special event for the group as they were celebrating their first anniversary and the group’s founders thanked volunteers for their ongoing support and hard work.

Nigel Hoy, one of the founders of the Friends of Berrow Beach, said the group has gone from strength to strength since its formation in March 2018 and they are more determined than ever to clean up Berrow’s Coastline.

He said: “We are really pleased with how much of an impact this group has had on members of the public and would like to thank all of our volunteers who get involved in our beach cleans.

“Honour Greenslade, Sue Meads and Tracie Philpott set up this group in March 2018 and I joined after the first beach clean.

“We hold beach cleans on the second Saturday of every month and each beach clean has become more of a social event, with free tea/coffee and cakes after, which are served by our wonderful tea ladies, Joy and Julia.

“We regularly fill about five or six large plastic sacks during each clean, which are all hauled to the roadside by Berrow church for removal by the council.

“It has been fantastic to see so many people getting involved in helping to clean up our coastline.”

Nigel said the group has started to collect bigger items that have come ashore in the last few months thanks to the help of local dog walkers but they are looking to increase their capacity so they can collect these items on a regular basis.

He said: “Our group is totally reliant on grants and donations so we are grateful for any help we can get.

“We’re looking to increase our capacity and hopefully achieve more with more grants being applied for in the near future.”

For more information or to get involved in the beach clean search for Friends of Berrow Beach on Facebook.