The Scottish Maritime Museum and Irvine Clean Up Crew are inviting adults and children to come along for a day of fun and positive action for World Ocean Day on Saturday, June 8.
This is the first time that the Scottish Maritime Museum on Irvine Harbourside and voluntary environmental group Irvine Clean Up Crew have teamed up for the annual event.
Recognized by the United Nations since 2008, World Ocean Day aims to bring everyone together to create a better future with a healthy ocean and stable climate.
Reflecting this year’s theme of ‘Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean and Climate’, the Irvine museum and the Clean Up Crew have invited everyone along to the beach clear up followed by some creative poster making.
The community clean up on Irvine Beach will take place between 10am and 11.30am.
As well as cleaning up the marine environment and saving litter from ending up in the sea, everyone will learn about the main types of litter found along this stretch of coastline.
Participants will even be able to pledge one action which they will take to help keep the waters free from litter.
That afternoon between 1am - 4pm, visitors can pop into the museum’s Linthouse building for some creative fun making posters which promote the need to protect the oceans from litter.
The session is drop in and all materials are included. There’ll even be some cleaned litter from the morning’s beach clean to work with. Finished posters can also be contributed to the Museum for a World Ocean Day display.
Jennifer Pless, community engagement and development officer at the museum, said: “It’s more important than ever that we protect our local marine environment so we are thrilled to join with Irvine Clean Up Crew for this year’s World Ocean Day.
“Together, we wanted to create some fun practical and creative opportunities engaging everyone in taking positive action to protect our planet’s oceans.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone on the day. Let’s celebrate World Ocean Day together.”
Kathryn Sloan, Irvine Clean Up Crew treasurer, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Scottish Maritime Museum for World Ocean Day.
“Our practical approach to protecting our marine environment by litter picking and stopping rubbish entering the sea will be complemented by the creative poster making session at the museum.
“It is an opportunity to show that there are different ways to ‘take action’ to help protect our planet’s oceans.
“We hope that it will inspire those who join in to do what they can to reduce their impact on our oceans and the whole planet.
“We love Irvine Beach and would love to show others how they can contribute to helping protect it”.
Participation in the event is free and all equipment will be provided.
No booking is required but participants are asked to visit Irvine Clean Up Crew’s Facebook page @irvinebeach and register interest on the event listing.
Those taking part will meet at the picnic area behind the beach pavilion at the bottom of Beach Drive.
Adults attending the beach clean in the morning will receive a token giving them entry to the Museum at a reduced rate of £4. Up to three children get free entry with each paying adult.
For more information on the Scottish Maritime Museum, you can visit www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org.
To contact Irvine Clean Up Crew about the beach clean up, contact @irvinebeach on Facebook.
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