Caring for the Coast

Restoring the beauty the Lecale Way from Killough to St John’s Point is the mission for volunteers on Saturday 2 September, who will tackle the unsightly plastic bottles, cans and buckets that marrs one of the loveliest stretches of coast in Northern Ireland.

This team effort has been co-ordinated by the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership (SLLP), working with local kayakers and volunteers on land, who will collect and relay rubbish from inaccessible coves to a Rigid Inflatable Boat and then on to the shore at Killough where it will be collected by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

This is the first time that such an approach has been tried and has been made possible by a grant from the Live Here Love Here small grant scheme administered by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

Kieron Black is a local resident and keen kayaker and said, “I was delighted to be approached by the SLLP to help access areas that cannot usually be cleaned because it is so difficult to reach them and to carry rubbish back from them overland. I love being out on the water along this coast and am pleased to be involved in restoring this section. It’s the first time we have tried it so we will just see how well it works on the day.”

The clean-up will commence at 11am and volunteers are asked to congregate at the Killough end of the coastal path. On street parking will be available along Castle Street and Fishermens’ Row, as well as the public car park at the harbour.

The terrain is rough underfoot and the pathway is steep with stiles to cross and some scrambling required in places, however the first section is reasonably easy to access. Sensible footwear and outdoor weather gear are essential. 

Litter picks, plastic gloves and refuse sacks will be provided.

SLLP is a partnership of stakeholders involved in the management of the Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Strangford Lough Marine Protected Area. It is funded by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs; Newry, Mourne and Down District Council; and Ards and North Down Borough Council. 

The Long term goal of this initiative is to reduce the litter which comes from boats at sea and also from people using the coastal path.

In the event of very bad weather the event will be cancelled. Please check SLLP Facebook and twitter strangfordlough.org for an update on the morning.