Minister Rewards Coastal Clean Up Volunteers

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23 October 2009 - 1:30pm
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Tagged as:

• Environment
• Environment
• TIDY Northern Ireland

The inaugural Coca-Cola Clean Coast Awards, managed by TIDY Northern Ireland, are part of the Clean Coast Programme and are designed to recognise the outstanding contribution of individuals and groups involved in cleaning and protecting our rural beaches, from Benone on the North Coast to Cranfield Beach in the shadow of the Mournes.

Since the beginning of 2009, 875 volunteers have registered on the programme, spending almost 1,700 hours removing 540 bags of rubbish from our beaches.  In addition to the commonly encountered plastic bags, confectionary wrappers and marine debris, items removed have included trousers, cutlery, fridges, a bed and even a boxing glove.

Presenting the awards Minister Poots said, "I would like to congratulate all of the volunteers and the award winners on their tremendous achievements - this is excellent!   However the volume of waste collected highlights the necessity for every single person to take special care when discarding their rubbish. 

We are blessed with beautiful beaches in Northern Ireland for everyone to enjoy but we must act responsibly not only when using our beaches but when discarding waste from our homes.

Over fifty percent of Northern Irelands' biodiversity is in the sea and therefore we all have a responsibility, to keep our beaches rubbish free to maintain our rich marine environment."

TIDY Northern Ireland Chief Executive Dr Ian Humphreys has been thrilled with the response generated in the first year of the awards programme.

"TIDY Northern Ireland is delighted to be able to recognise the tremendous efforts that volunteers and councils have been putting in to combat the increasing problem of litter on our beaches.  Sadly we are all familiar with the rubbish that accumulates beside the sea, spoiling one of Northern Ireland's greatest natural assets.  Tourism and the investment that it brings has become increasingly important to the Northern Ireland economy in recent times, and the success of the Clean Coast Programme is showing that a growing number of people are refusing to stand back and watch their local environment become polluted. These volunteers have set the standards on how we should look after our coastal environment, and it's time others followed their lead and disposed of their litter in a responsible fashion."

Gillian McBrien, Public Relations Executive of Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland, added,

"Northern Ireland is world famous for its dramatic and beautiful coastlines, but in order to keep it that way, local communities must take responsibility for their beaches, keep them clean and uphold their natural beauty. The Coca-Cola Clean Coast Awards provide a great way of recognising and rewarding the practical action being taken by individual and groups across Northern Ireland in looking after our much treasured rural beaches.

As a local company Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland has been investing in community projects for some 70 years, and we are delighted to be working hand in hand with Tidy Northern Ireland, an organisation that is wholly committed to protecting our local environment, and championing positive change for Northern Ireland's coastline. Congratulations to all the beach managers and local communities from around Northern Ireland on achieving these prestigious awards."

2009 Coca-Cola Clean Coast Award Winners

The Coca-Cola Clean Coast Group Award

Winner: Cloughey District & Community Association

Judges Comment;

"Cloughey District and Community Association thoroughly deserve recognition for the outstanding example they have set in regards to the lasting partnerships they have fostered with local organisations and council. The community Association has organised an impressive number of beach cleans and collecting tonnes of rubbish from Cloughey beach. They really have made a positive difference to the beach which can be enjoyed by the whole community."

The Best Youth Group Award

Winner: Kilkeel Parish Youth

Judges Comment;   

"Kilkeel Parish Youth have carried out a significant number of clean up's on the beach at Kilkeel, working daily and for a number of weeks throughout the summer. An area with a rich heritage in seas fishing, Kilkeel suffers from a daily onslaught of unsightly and potentially hazardous fishing debris and this group has made an invaluable contribution to improving the local environment."

Highly Commended: Voice of Young People in Care

Judges Comment;    

"The young people of VOYPIC deserve to be commended for their commitment to improving and caring for the coastal environment. The groups not only removed a substantial amount of unsightly waste from the beach at Benone during their beach clean, but also helped build intrigue and raise awareness among local residents of the Clean Coast Programme by designing and building their own sand sculptured sea creatures on the beach."

The Best Partnership Award

Millisle Community Association and Millisle Primary School

Judges Comment;    

"The partnership between Millisle Community Association and Millisle Primary School is a fantastic example of how everyone in the community can work together to maintain a safe and litter free environment for all to enjoy. It is obvious that with this partnership comes a very strong commitment and determination to build in environmental education and continuous learning through numerous beach cleans, activities and fun days on the beach." 

The Best Business Involvement Award

Translink

Judges Comment;    

"Translink is one of the few large businesses in Northern Ireland to have a dedicated biodiversity action plan.   The plan values community engagement in coastal issues which their transport routes traverse.  Special mention should go to Rose Cremin, Ulster Wildlife Trust Biodiversity Officer, who has helped the business in organising beach cleans, contributing greatly to cleaning our coast and getting the local community more involved and interested in protecting these fragile habitats."

The Project of the Year Award

Lecale Conservation

Judges Comment;    

"Lecale Conservation has demonstrated a commitment not only to cleaning the local beach at Minerstown but also on caring for its resident seal colony, which in the past have suffered from a barrage of threats including entanglement in fishing litter and ingestion of plastic. The local conservation group has been working to protect these fantastic animals, which constitute the single most important colony in Northern Ireland, through relationships with the council and are currently looking at local legislation with District Council including the potential use of bye-laws."

The Most Committed Volunteer Award

Elena Aceves-Cully (Larne)

Judges Comment;

"Elena has been working year after year to save Browns Bay beach from being buried in litter. She organises beach cleans throughout the year and is not afraid to get her hands dirty when it comes to digging out old tyres and menacing plastic bags from the beach. She also makes sure to keep track of the quantity and different types of litter found on the beach helping us build up a good picture of the problem we have around our coast.

The Coca-Cola Clean Coast Programme Achievement Award

Eric Rainey (Ards)

Judges Comment;

"The amount Eric Rainey has achieved in the last year is evidence of his love and passion for the environment. He was the key player in the award of the first Clean Coast Award in 2008 and was instrumental in establishing the ownership of the local beach. He produced the beaches' first management plan. He actively sought and succeeded in getting the bathing water tested and has established good relationships with the council. If it were not for people like this, fantastic beaches like Cloughey would be all the poorer." 

The Coastal Enthusiast Award

Craig Blaney

Judges Comment;

"The environment has always been an issue close to the heart of Craig Blaney and when he first found out about the work of TIDY Northern Ireland and the Clean Coast Programme in particular he was extremely keen that the Young Unionists should get involved. He believes in active communities and has demonstrated this through the time and energy he has put into numerous beach cleans.  His infectious enthusiasm is used to encourage others to get involved and be as committed about the coastal environment as he is!"

The Endeavour Award

Joyce Rankin (Coleraine)

Judges Comment;

"Joyce Rankin has worked tirelessly to protect their local coastline and has helped not only in countless beach cleans on the three beaches but has also helped to provide evidence to have Salmon Rock beach at Portballintrae recognised and designated as a bathing beach.  She has also lobbied to have the sewage system upgraded.  All this was done whilst tackling difficult personal issues."

The Photograph of the Year Award

Dianne Heath (Belfast)

Judges Comment;

"Dianne Heath captured the essence and natural beauty of Northern Ireland's beaches with the shoot of the coastline near Dunluce Castle. The judges were particularly impressed with the use of light giving the photo a very warm welcoming quality. The photo highlights one of the most beautiful areas of our coastline and brings to the fore the need to protect it and keep it this way."

Photographs:  Individual photographs of the prize winners are available.  Please contact TIDY Northern Ireland Communications Officer Nigel Frazer on 028 90 736926 or email nigel.frazer@tidynorthernireland.org