David Meade adds a Little Magic to Clean Coast Week
Christine Cahoon Thu 07 May 2015 updated: Thu 22 Oct 2015
Northern Ireland’s very own mentalist David Meade has once again shown that he Lives Here and Loves Here by launching ‘Coca-Cola Coast Care’. This joint initiative between Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland supports volunteers who clean up beaches, rivers and loughs around the province.
The Programme supports local people who are passionate about caring for Northern Ireland’s coastline and inland waterways. They show they Live Here and Love Here by carrying out practical work in a bid to reduce the impact of litter and tackling wider environmental issues.
With the onset of summer more people are hitting the coast. Thankfully, most people take their rubbish home but a thoughtless few are leaving their litter lying.This spoils the visitor experience for others. In 2014 we worked with over 4,000 individuals who joined in Coast Care activities including cleaning up other people’s rubbish.
This year the Coca-Cola Clean Coast Week will take place between 8th and 17th May with activities ranging from cross-border events along Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough with An Taisce, Rock pool Rambles with Ulster Wildlife to a Golf Themed clean up with Tourism Northern Ireland. For a full schedule of events please visit www.liveherelovehere.org.
All Clean Coast Week activities added to the Live Here Love Here website will also contribute to Clean Europe Week as part of this annual Europe-wide clean-up event.
Dr Ian Humphreys, Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said, “Coast Care volunteers really are setting the standard for how we want where we live to look. Of course most people don’t drop litter, but it takes a special person to care enough to clean up other people’s rubbish. This hugely important initiative with Coca Cola is ensuring these special individuals can play their part in helping us all, whether local or tourist, to enjoy our world class coast and waterways.”
2015 will be the eighth year in which Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Coca-Cola have worked together in a bid to make our shores a cleaner and safer place.
Gillian Shields, Community Investment Manager for Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland said, “Coca-Cola is committed to investing in the local environment, protecting the natural beauty of our beaches and encouraging community participation in preserving our landscape. The Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week emphasises the important role that we can all play, in conserving our marine environment. We are delighted to once again partner with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful in support of this initiative, where all across the country, local communities will be coming together to celebrate the wonderful natural resource that is our extensive coastline.”
If you would like to make a difference in your area whether it be coastal or an inland waterway then you can get involved by getting in touch with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful by ringing 02890 736 920 or emailing nicola.murray@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.
Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful will be able to support your clean ups with equipment and other means of assistance and you may even be nominated for a prestigious award when the summer is over!