09/05/2012 -

Protecting Ireland’s Beaches, Seas and Marine Life

Sligo Coastcare Volunteer Groups take Action against Coastal Erosion

A number of Sligo Coastcare groups will be taking part in marram grass planting events on the counties beaches as part of the annual Coca – Cola Clean Coasts Week.

Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week is a national initiative run by An Taisce which empowers communities to protect and celebrate their local coastal environment. The week takes place from Friday 11th to Friday 18th May 2012 and forms part of An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme.

Throughout the week a series of nationwide events will be taking place, including Ireland’s first ever National Marram Grass planting day with a headline event taking place in County Sligo. The event will take place on Thursday the 17th of May on the dunes at Rosses Point beach with a Coastcare group from Abbott Ireland Diagnostic Division, Finisklin and the assistance of Sligo County Council.  The second marram grass planting event will be taking place on Streedagh beach on the 18th of May with local members of the community and local primary school, Scoil Naomh Molaise.

Marram Grass is hugely important for the protection of our beaches and dunes. It creates a strong underground root system that protects dunes from erosion.

As well as the marram grass planting sessions there will also be a large clean up of the beaches in the Strandhill area of Sligo on Saturday morning at 11am, all are welcome to attend.

Sligo has some of the most beautiful Coastline in the Ireland and Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week is encouraging local communities to work together to protect this invaluable natural resource.

Thousands of people are expected to participate nationwide during the week and over 60 voluntary Coastcare groups have already signed up, which is now in its third year.

Annual events such as An Taisce’s now eagerly anticipated Clean Coasts photography competition and the Big Beach Clean will also be taking place. A detailed list of all nationwide events can be found on the dedicated website – www.cleancoastsweek.ie – where people can also register details of their own events in their local areas.

Olivia Crossan, Coastal Programmes Officer for the North West said: “Clean Coasts Week is a wonderful opportunity to get groups from all walks of society together for a common cause. By participating in these events, our coastal shores will become cleaner and more sustainably managed at a local level. Together we can take responsibility for our coastline and show pride in our beautiful surroundings.”

Coastcare groups are voluntary groups that care for a stretch of beach or coastline; and also form an important aspect of An Taisce’s ‘Green Coast Awards’. An Taisce’s prestigious Green Coast Awards are awarded to beaches for their excellent water quality, natural beauty, clean environment and sound environmental management. These beaches may not have the necessary built infrastructure to meet criteria set for Blue Flag status; however Green Coast Award beaches are exceptional places to visit and to enjoy our rich coastal heritage and diversity.

Help a coastline you love by participating in An Taisce’s Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week, register online www.cleancoastsweek.ie .

The Clean Coasts programme is owned and operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and is supported by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Coca-Cola and Fáilte Ireland.
 

Clean Coasts Week

11^th – 18^th May 2012

Protecting Ireland's Beaches, Seas and Marine Life.

THE BIG BEACH CLEAN

Help a shoreline you love! Sign up with An Taisce for your free clean up kit. Telephone 01 4002210.

 

CLEAN COASTS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

May 16^th 2012

Have your cameras ready, details about this year’s competition will be announced on Wednesday 16^th May 2012. For more information log onto www.cleancoastsireland.org

 

NATIONAL  MARRAM GRASS PLANTING DAY

18^th May 2012

If you would like to get involved in a marram grass planting event, please let us know, you can sign up by logging onto www.cleancoastsweek.ie or phoning An Taisce at  01 4002210.

For More Information on Events Taking Place Go To www.cleancoastsweek.ie