by Dan MilnerWhile pink footed geese honked loudly overhead 17 volunteers, including eager kids, joined Sleat Nature Group’s community clean of Torabhaig beach on Sunday 26 October.
Despite a biting wind and autumnal showers in just two hours the beach had been enthusiastically scoured and some 380 Kg of marine litter collected and disposed of into a skip provide by Highland Council.
While recent storm Amy left the beach largely covered in deposited weed and, as had been found on other beaches since the storm, devoid of much of the ‘typical’ smaller marine litter usually found during cleans, the team got to work removing some larger items that had clearly been on the beach for some time, including a whole abandoned mud-filled kayak and a 40L drum of used engine oil that had luckily not been ruptured and leaked. The oil was taken to Portree recycling centre and the kayak cleaned up to be paddled another day!
The beach clean (of course) culminated in chats over hot tea and coffee and biscuits provide by Sleat Nature Group.
Thanks to all involved and especially to Torabhaig Distillery for providing access and support, and to Highland council for the free skip service.