Spar stores continue to get involved in beach clean activities as part of a ‘Million Mile Clean’ initiative, which is the brainchild of environmental marine company, Surfers Against Sewage.
Million Mile Clean is a programme that brings communities together to tidy up several miles of the UK coastline, and Spar stores started taking part in June to mark World Ocean Day. More stores are expected to participate in similar projects as the summer progresses.
Seven coastal beach locations have already experienced a beach clean, including Seaton Carew in County Durham, Southsea beach in Portsmouth, as well as Ballycastle Beach, Kilkeel Beach, Newcastle Beach, Killyleagh and Kircubbin in Northern Ireland.
Spar has given its network the chance to participate, and Surfers Against Sewage provides all the tools and kits to undertake a beach clean. These kits include rubble sacks, gloves and first aid kits for up to 30 volunteers.
Suzanne Dover, brand & marketing director at Spar UK, said: “We have arranged with Surfers Against Sewage that Spar stores can sign up to participate in the Million Mile Clean.
“This is an initiative that involves bringing our communities together as well helping the environment. We are delighted to see 11 Spar stores already getting behind this initiative and helping to clean up their local beaches.”
Spar Seaton Crew in Durham, which is owned and serviced by Spar’s wholesaler James Hall & Co, took a number of staff with two members of the community out and cleaned Seaton Carew beach in early June.
Fiona Drummond, company stores director at James Hall & Co, said: “Spar stores are part of the fabric of their communities and we were delighted that members of the public joined the store team for the clean-up to improve the beach for all who use it.”
Meanwhile, Appleby Westward company-owned stores area manager, Indya McLaren, led a team of more than 20 store managers, deputy managers, and other colleagues on a beach clean at the end of June.
“We held a clean-up on Southsea beach, which is a short drive from all of my stores so we kept it local,” McLaren explained.
“It was a great opportunity to do our bit for the environment as well as have some fun with colleagues.”
Jack Middleton, co-founder of the Million Mile Clean initiative, commented: “At Surfers Against Sewage our aim is to make the UK a cleaner, greener place for everyone to enjoy.
“That’s why we’ve created our biggest ever beach clean campaign: the Million Mile Clean. We’re mobilising 100,000 people each year to get out there and protect the areas they love. Beach, street, river, or mountain, the Million Mile Clean is open to everyone, no matter where you live. Whether you’re an individual beach cleaner, a group of friends, a team of colleagues, a school or community group, every piece of rubbish you collect brings us one step closer to stopping plastic pollution.”
[Image credit: Spar UK]
