We’ve have been working with Bangor University students on beach cleans every march for the past few years and from this several other activities/events have come about. This is one of those events and shows the importance of making these links especially when you find people keen and able to enthuse, helping to create such a great day. Frederick Walters and Jack Whittle were also regular Living Seas volunteers during their time at Bangor.

Volunteer with Living Seas Wales

 

Each and every one of us can make a change.

“Around 50 active students from Bangor University got together over the last couple of weeks to start the Crafting Cleaner Coasts project, stirring up awareness against marine littering. During February two beaches were cleaned on the north coast of Wales, Criccieth and Dinas Dinlle. Afterwards, part of the plastic collected was used to make an artwork themed around marine life. This was momentarily on display in Deiniol road library in Bangor. The project was a collaboration between the Biological Society, Endeavour, the Marine Mammal Society, the Wetland Society, Bangor University Guides and Scouts, and the university Craft Society.

The kickstarter for this collaboration was sustainability month, getting many students around Bangor active in local beach cleans, energy saving projects and recycling initiatives. Helping the students was the North Wales Wildlife Trust who supported and advised them throughout their project. At the end, 15 bags of rubbish had been collected, mostly taken away by the local council. The following two weeks, the crafting sessions for the final display in the university library commenced.

... the students recognise the problem of litter and waste that is being thrown away every day around the country

Even more, so through this project, the students recognise the problem of litter and waste that is being thrown away every day around the country. A huge amount of plastic, cans, rope, glass bottles, wrapping materials and take-away related litter was picked up by every volunteer. The immediate problem is that plastic doesn’t degrade and only breaks up into millions of microplastics, contaminating our oceans and building up year after year. This is a real hazard for many species in our local waters.

With this, the students want to advertise the importance for us to change our personal lifestyle and how necessary it is to take action in our modern society. Each and every one of us can make a change. This has been shown by the students who dedicated their time in making our local environment cleaner and healthier, reducing the litter that would have otherwise been swept into our seas and oceans."