Love Your Beach Clean-Up Reveals Shocking Amount of Waste in Penzance

Plastic Free Penzance Leads Major Clean-Up

Volunteers tackling pollution on the Cornish coast removed over 22.54kg of waste during the latest Love Your Beach clean-up in Penzance. The event, organised by Plastic Free Penzance, saw dedicated participants clear everything from driftwood and old fishing gear to microplastics and plastic bottles from the shore.

Unusual Discoveries Amongst the Rubbish

While clearing the debris, beach cleaners came across some surprising finds, including a ray mermaid’s purse, a sea potato, and even a vertebrae from a seal. The clean-up not only helped reduce pollution but also provided a glimpse into the marine life and natural elements washed up on the coastline.

Love Your Beach: A Countywide Effort

The Love Your Beach campaign, led by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, is an annual event that encourages communities to “spread love, not litter” through a series of coastal clean-ups around Valentine’s Day. This year’s effort will see beach cleans taking place across Cornwall on 15th and 16th February, with groups from Fowey, Newquay, Bude, Looe, Rame Peninsula, St Ives, Par, Mounts Bay, Perranporth, and Falmouth all getting involved.

Other clean-ups are happening in the days leading up to the weekend, including Polzeath Marine Conservation Group on 12th February and St Agnes Marine Conservation at Porthtowan on 14th February.

For more details on how to take part in upcoming events, visit Cornwall Wildlife Trust or Plastic Free Penzance.