The SAS Are Involved, But Not The Ones You're Thinking Of!

If the SAS are involved, then there must be something serious happening involving the security of the nation. Well, there is something serious happening, but it's not the SAS that you are thinking of.

The SAS that is involved this time is the Surfers Against Sewage, and they are putting out a call for volunteers to assist in picking up litter from two of the country's most popular surfing beaches, Woolacombe and Saunton in North Devon.

The date when all this will take place is Saturday, 17th November, and is part of a continuing programme where the autumn has seen the SAS joined by the best part of five hundred volunteers who have removed about one tonne of rubbish from beaches around the country.

Those wishing to help are asked to meet at the foot of Saunton slipway for the beach clean, which runs from 10.30am–12.30pm and at Woolacombe, by the stream, for its event from 1pm–3pm.

Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Surfers Against Sewage, said "After the success of the North Devon Beach Clean Series in 2011, we are delighted to be working with The Crown Estate once again on the Autumn Beach Clean Series."

Tagholm added "Their support is helping us reach out to coastal communities across the UK to encourage people to get involved with protecting our precious beaches and marine environments from marine litter. "

This sort of public involvement brings the question of marine pollution right to the front of the many environmental issues that confront us these days. Apparently the last twenty years has seen an increase of about 100 per cent in the amount of man-made items being washed up on our coastline.

This includes fishing lines, carrier bags, bottles and plastic containers and general sewage-related debris. The effect on wildlife is devastating with more than 1 million seabirds, and in excess of 100,000 marine mammals and turtles dying each year.

The fact that the surfing community are getting so involved in this campaign should be a good lever to encourage the relevant authorities to try and take decisive action on this matter.

Subject to weather conditions, these hardy souls are one of the few groups who try and make use of our coastal seas three hundred and sixty five days a year, and most idealised views of a splendid coastline will always try and make use of a surfer of two, either seen striding majestically towards the waves, or as a series of bobbing heads at a distance.

If you live close to either of these splendid beaches, please see if you can find time to join the volunteers and play your part in trying to get the authorities moving.