THE FRIENDS OF TANKERTON BAY
Join us at our
BEACH CLEAN
Last Beach Clean Sunday 7th April 2024:
Dear Friends of Tankerton Bay,
We expected some wind today, and the weather didn’t disappoint, although it was mostly warm and fairly sunny. The weather forecast may have put some people off, as we mustered just 20 volunteers today, including one child, and our ex-Tankerton Councillor, Neil Baker. Four of the adults were newbies, and so we welcome them, particularly as they brought in good individual hauls! Well done to them and to Barbara for the 3 kgs she brought in herself.
We were also asked by a passer-by whether we ever did Beach Cleans during the week, asking on behalf of a class of nursery-aged children. We don’t do this, sticking to our usual first-Sunday-in-the-month, but if any Council member or fellow Beach Clean volunteer could help in this regard, we can put you in touch with the enquirer.
Collected weights were:
Beach: 19kgs (40kgs last time)
Slopes: 13kgs (18kgs last time)
Total: 32kgs (58kgs last time)
Total since our first clear in April 2016: 3,812kgs
On the beach – As was the case in March, we had a great deal of fragmented polystyrene to pick up, along with the usual bottles, caps, and tiny pieces of plastic. One of our newbies commented that the beach looked particularly clean, until you “really looked” for the tiny pieces. We also had fishing lines, netting, shoe soles, cardboard, large pieces of plastic, a tennis ball, a child’s scooter (left by the bins for a possible retrieval by the child), a litter-picker (brought back to its perch by the Lifeguard Hut for passers-by to use), bricks, and a long length of toilet roll, as if to wrap around a tree, as our volunteer described it! Sadly, one of our newbies also picked up a syringe, an extremely rare event for us, and although we would ordinarily have alerted the Council for a pick-up, this one was already in the bag, and described as possibly a diabetic syringe with a cap on the end. We therefore three-bagged it with a host of other rubbish.
The Slopes – a volunteer reported that a hut at Tankerton West appeared to be being used for rough sleeping (we will check on this) and bedding and a set of NHS crutches were found (and left) in the wooded area to the west of the flagpole. We have noted this as an area of concern for some time now.
Finally, the usual “Big Thanks” to all those volunteers who joined us for this clear – especially Jim, who stepped in and gave royal support, and to our stalwart FOTB core group, who take all of the equipment down to the beach from our tennis court storage and then back uphill again afterwards, as well as managing the actual clear itself.
Further thanks as ever also to Canenco, for collecting and removing our FOTB bags so promptly, and for all their efforts day-to-day to help keep our Bay as litter-free as they are able.
Next clear: Sunday 5th May: 09.15 – 10.30 as usual. We hope to see you again that day (subject to the weather, although we will be expecting “proper” Spring by then!) and we will send the usual reminder letter shortly beforehand.
Very best wishes,
Marilyn, David, & Viv
For The Friends of Tankerton Bay (FOTB)
Meet at the Lifeguard Hut on the Beach Front, adjacent to Tankerton West.
An hours energy, well spent for the benefit of the community.
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“Adopt-a-Beach” Scheme and Canterbury City Council Foreshore Services
Meet on the beach at the bottom of Tankerton Slopes, by the NEW White Lifeguard hut
Do come along and join us – all equipment will be provided.
All collecting gear will be provided by Canterbury
City Council.
For information on beach cleans in general
go to www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch/
An hour’s exercise, rosy cheeks, and a clean beach! You’ll feel better for it!
