The Rotary Club of Dumfries Devorgilla have recently included environmental projects in their service section and kicked off the initiative with a beach clean at Southerness last Monday. Their aim was to remove as much plastic and non-biodegradable materials from the shoreline as possible.
Service and Environment Convenor Charles Milroy said that “For our first beach clean we had 25 people volunteer to help out including Rotary members, friends and relations as well as Laura from the Eco Warriors group. In only two hours on the shoreline, we collected over 120 kg of materials which included bottles of all shapes and sizes, ropes and commercial fishing gear, plastic straws as well as tin cans and polystyrene coffee cups and food containers. Unfortunately two dead porpoises were also reported. In initiating this project we had tremendous support from Solway Firth Partnership, Eco Warriors and Mark Jardine of the People’s Project.”
Beaches play a significant role in our ecosystem. As well as an environment for marine animals they play a role in mitigating the effects of climate change protecting the coast from damaging effects of high winds, waves and storms. Plastic littering occurs all over the world on beaches and seven billion tons of debris are deposited annually on beaches creating a health and environmental hazard for the marine biodiversity that we all depend on. Not only that but they are simply an environment we all love being apart of and increases our sense of well-being and happiness. Something we all can benefit from in these times.
Devorgilla Rotary are intending a wider range of environmental projects to draw greater awareness of our environment. Club President Tom Florey said that “Cleanups are an excellent starting point for rehabilitation work to our beaches. Taking responsibility for our own plastic waste and becoming mindful of how we use and dispose things is something we can all benefit from for the future. For our own part, this service project is a great demonstration of Rotary at work in our local community, it allows us to make a positive impact on our local environment as well as engaging with like minded individuals and organisations.”
Charles Milroy went on to say “The Club intend a regular programme of events, predominantly tackling shorelines on the Solway Firth facing south-westerly which collects the greatest amount of waste with the potential for next weekend clean up to be carried out in the easterly section of the Region towards Annan. If you are interested in joining and taking part please contact us at [email protected] or view our Facebook page by searching for devorgillarotary and send us a message.”
