The volunteer group Beach Buddies is starting the first of a series of major beach cleaning sessions for the autumn and winter months this weekend at Ballaugh.

Beach Buddies has identified a number of beaches all over the Island which are in urgent need of bug teams of volunteers to make a difference.

The Beach Buddies slogan is: “It’s not enough just to stand and stare” and founder Bill Dale is keen to see new volunteers join the ever-expanding team of people wanting to make a difference to the Island’s beaches, glens and footpaths.

The first “Beach Buddies Big Team” beach cleaning session this coming Sunday morning at 10.30am at Ballaugh Cronk.

Beach Buddies will provide gloves, bin bags and litter pickers. Volunteers may wish to bring their own gloves and will definitely need good footwear, such as walking boots and possibly wellies, as the stream has recently turned into more of a river!

Bill Dale has been cleaning the beach at Ballaugh this week, but realises that it needs a bigger team to tackle Ballaugh and several other beaches which have large amounts of rubbish following the recent storms. “It is a huge job all over the Island, and we need a big team to transform this lovely beach at Ballaugh back to its usual beautiful condition.

“There are other beaches which need attention too, and Beach Buddies will be running regular sessions most weekends in the near future all over the Island.

“I appreciate that not everyone can make it, so look out for further updates and beach cleaning dates in the near future at a variety of points around the Island, such as the Point of Ayre, Gansey, Castletown, Ramsey and Blue Point.”

Anyone wishing to join in is invited to turn up at Ballaugh Cronk at 10.30am on Sunday. To register for future e-mails contact beach buddies@manx.net.