See It. Snap It. Send It
Text your news to 80360, start your message with KENEWS Click here for more... »
Volunteers give spring clean to Morecambe Bay
12:54pm Monday 14th April 2008
A beach clean held on Saturday 12 April was supported by 42 volunteers who gave a well needed spring clean to the shoreline around Sandgate Marsh, Cark.
The event organised by Morecambe Bay Partnership, with support from Bay Search and Rescue, Holker Estates and Philip Wilson of Sandgate Farm, removing a staggering 3 tonnes of waste from the shore as part of the BeachCare programme to improve the appearance of our coast.
The invaluable assistance from the eight members of Bay Search and Rescue team with their Hagglund tracked rescue vehicle meant that we could collect the tyres and large items much more efficiently. It also made the morning cleanup more of an event for the volunteers, some of who enjoyed a ride in the trailers.
Jules Evans of Cark, who asked Morecambe Bay Partnership to hold the beach clean, and handled the local publicity, said "The beach looks so much better now after a good clean up".
Matt Sanderson, volunteer beach clean leader for the Partnership, said "The help that Bay Search and Rescue have given us today is brilliant, but I would really like to thank everyone who has been here today - they all worked very hard indeed!"
Julian Buckmaster of Bay Search and Rescue said, "We are very happy to help with events like this - we are all proud of Morecambe Bay and keen to play a part in looking after it".
Local farmer Phillip Wilson kindly provided a trailer to assist in the removal of litter from the beach and Holker Estates provided valuable support in setting up the event.
If anyone wants to find out more, to support a clean up on their local beach, or is interested in joining the volunteers they can Contact Matt Sanderson email: beachclean@btinternet.com or mobile: 07933 744222.
The next Furness beach clean events will include the following.
Saturday 3 May, at Bardsea from 1-3pm. Meet in the Car Park (at SD302742).
Saturday 31 May, Piel Island - a great day out. Meet at Snab Point at 11.30 to sign in. This will be a guided walk to the island with a litter pick. Bring a picnic, if you want (bar is expected to be open) - we hope it will be a lovely day. Finish by 3.30 pm. There's no parking at Snab Point - so please park at Wylock Marsh (SD196641), and walk along to Snab point. Meet at SD209639. This event is in partnership with StreetSafe.
All our events are listed at www.morecambebay.org.uk To date the Partnership has worked with over 2,600 volunteers and removed over 24 tonnes of litter from the shores of Morecambe Bay. We have three active BeachCare groups that meet regularly to clean the shores of their localities. These are Arnside/Silverdale, Hest Bank/Morecambe and in Furness.
Anyone who is interested to learn more can to contact the Morecambe Bay Partnership on 01539 734888. All our BeachCare events are listed at http://www.morecambebay.org.uk/what_we_do/BeachCare.html as new dates are arranged they will go onto the website.
Your sayYourCumbria
Add your comment
Register for a FREE The Westmorland Gazette account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.
Please register now or sign in below to continue.
In this section
- Get That Weekend Feeling
- Van fails to stop after collision near Ambleside
- Affordable housing campaign takes shelter in Kendal
- Councillors claim thousands in expenses
- Herbicide ban called for
- Kendal hospital ‘victory’ applauded
- Restoration work is underway
- Bay walks guide condemns route change idea
- Elected park authority members debated
- Ospreys deliver a surprise
Essential Links
Sponsored Links
Editor's Choice
Racing project gets national motorsport attention
A CUMBRIAN quest to find future Lewis Hamiltons has been adopted nationally.
Bay walks guide condemns route change idea
A REPORT looking into the possibility of changing the finish point of the ever-popular Morecambe Bay walks has been condemned by the Queen’s Official Guide to the Sands.
Prehistoric walk
The interesting brochure you can obtain from the car park at Foulshaw Moss says that more than several thousand years ago the Witherslack Mosses were part of an extensive wetland in what is now the Lyth Valley and on the flat ground west of the Kent Estuary. The Mosses - Meathop, Foulshaw and Nicols - are raised peat bogs brought about by sphagnum moss that draws up, acidifies, and holds water like a giant sponge, creating waterlogged conditions as it grows. Sphagnum grows from the tip, leaving the lower part to die. Waterlogging halts decay of these dead bits that build up and up over thousands of years, to form deep domed mounds of peat that are raised many feet above the surrounding ground. The Witherslack Mosses have dried out partly as a result of forestry and the invasion of scrub. Over time, drainage and peat cutting led to the loss of more wetland and now only significant fragments remain. Specialised peatbog flora and fauna have been unable to thrive because of the area being too shaded and too dry. Recently conifers have been removed and also masses of rhododendrons have been cleared. Hundreds of peat and plastic dams have been installed to bring about the ‘sponge’ effect of the peat. At Foulshaw, the remains of a 15ft to 16ft wide prehistoric trackway has been uncovered. This is believed to have been constructed in the mid-Bronze Age to allow people to cross the once huge wetland. Trunks of ash and birch were laid side by side and supported on logs. Foulshaw Moss is open to the public. Nichols Moss, a really squelchy one, is only suitable for a hundred yards or so before you encounter pathless very wet moss. It is a delight to stand and look ahead but as there is no walkway do not continue. Pause just on its edge from where you might spot red deer. Meathop is a lovely walk but only for those with a permit from Cumbria Wildlife Trust or if you are a member. The parking is difficult. After the first short grassy track, follow a wider track, left, that winds round right by a pasture and into fine conifer woodland. Beyond this a wide walkway takes you out some distance into the moss, from where you will spot all sorts of interesting lowly plants. To visit Foulshaw Moss, on the A590, it is best to approach the entrance from the direction of Kendal. If coming from the opposite direction continue on past the entrance and make use of the Levens underpass to make a U-turn and approach from the north. This avoids trying to make a right turn across a narrow section of the busy A-road. The entrance is not signposted until you have turned off the road. The entrance turn, a cart track, lies just before a large layby on a narrow section of the A-road. Just beyond the turn, stands a huge sign saying ‘Dual carriageway a mile ahead’. To approach the entrance, drive the dual carriageway at Levens until it ends. Continue a short distance along the two-way road and begin to signal your left turn. Watch out for the large sign ahead. If you reach the layby you have gone too far.
What's On Live Travel YourCumbria
Hot Jobs
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
