Our main objective for this year is to get the group properly set up and constituted as a SCIO, so that we can (a) consolidate the odd pots of money we already have squirrelled away, and (b) become eligible to apply for future funding opportunities, as and when they become available.
Our initial project will be to find a suitable site, and establish a single point on the island to which collected marine litter can be taken for sorting, distribution, recycling and re-using. There are now a surprising number of ways this can be done – from fishing nets to creel hooks – so our aim will be to maximise the opportunities to constructively use or dispose of as much of the litter collected around Skye & Lochalsh as possible.
So if anyone would like to get more involved and potentially become a Trustee of the SCIO, please get in touch with us for further information at skye.beachcleans@gmail.com.
Beach clean dates have now been set for Harlosh (5 April), Ostaig (6 April), Uig (26 April), Eabost (12 April). Full details will be posted on the website and Facebook page nearer the dates.
As far as recycling some of the debris is concerned, we are looking at becoming part of a major net recycling scheme, whereby large bags – in particular of trawl net – can be strapped up on pallets and uplifted. If you would like further details of this, please let us know, and we will pass on details as soon as they have been confirmed. We also have at least one organisation which is keen to collect hard plastic for recycling – they will be organising a trip here to collect, probably towards the end of May – see below!
The Scottish Coastal Clean Up project are planning another trip to Loch Bracadale and surrounding area in mid-May, hopefully this time with their beach cleaning boat. So we will be making a further attempt at cleaning all the inaccessible beaches and island shores in the loch while they are here. Around the same time, we are expecting Keep Britain Tidy to come and do another collection of hard plastic for recycling, so if you want to squirrel stuff like this away for collection later then, please let us know!
Last but not least, we’d like to create a few more of these! This one was made for the Winter Festival in Oban, but we would like to try and get a herd of them from all the Scottish Islands – guidelines on construction available on request!