Volunteer beach cleaning gets started again for the first time this year when a team from Beach Buddies tackles one of the worst affected beaches on the Isle of Man tomorrow (Saturday).

A team of volunteers will gather at Cranstal beach in the north of the Island at 10.30am tomorrow morning to tackle a massive build-up of rubbish, mostly plastic.

Beach Buddies founder Bill Dale said, “We have deliberately avoided organising "Big Team" events in the last 6-8 weeks because of the weather, but it's long past time to get going again, so the next session is planned for this coming Saturday morning (February 16th), for just an hour or so, starting at 10.30am.”

The beach at Cranstal is a place described as “a huge problem”. Access is at the sharp right hand corner on the way to the Point of Ayre, where the orange coloured house is for sale. Park either just up the road from the corner in a safe spot, or down the lane which leads to the beach. Given that we will all be arriving and leaving around the same time then maybe filling the lane might make most sense.

Beach Buddies has arranged with the Northern Civic Amenity Site to recycle / dispose of the rubbish collected. As always, wear decent walking boots, warm clothes and probably a warm hat, in case it's not the best weather. The forecast, however, is fairly good.

Bill Dale added, “We hope to have regular "Big Team" sessions from now on, perhaps 3-4 times a month at various venues all over the Island. Ballaugh, Kirk Michael, Gansey and Castletown are in definite need of attention.

“It's also fully appreciated that it makes sense for volunteers to support the events closest to your own homes, to cut down on mileage, so if this event is not close to your own home then look out for future Beach Buddies' beach cleaning venues closer to your home in the next few weeks. Please send any other ideas for beach cleaning anywhere where it's urgently needed.”