Royal Stamp of Approval

TAKING SMALL STEPS CAN TURN THE TIDE FOR MARINE LIFE

You may remember the 65ft image of our late Queen on a postage stamp, which was created in June by retired family doctor and sand artist Claire Eason? She used a garden rake on Bamburgh beach in Northumberland, to mark the platinum jubilee. However, this week Claire's company Soul2Sand published a final image of the approaching tide as a poignant 'goodbye' to the monarch after 70 years on the throne.

The timing almost coincides with the start of the Marine Conservation Society's annual September Great British Beach Clean and what better incentive to take part, especially as Queen Elizabeth II once famously said, "It's worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change."

The Great British Beach Clean is a week-long event which encourages and organises volunteers to help pick litter from the nation's beaches to save marine life, whilst at the same time recording their findings along a 100metre stretch, for a survey which will help the Marine Marine Conservation Society and other organisations use the data to campaign for change.

As a mark of respect following the Queen's passing, the charity are rearranging some of the events due to take place between Friday 16th and Sunday 25th September 2022 and have cancelled those organised by their staff on the day of her funeral, 19th September 2022. However, keep an eye on their Great British Beach Clean website for details of other days and events and do get in touch directly if you need any support, or you may decide to do something just on your own to help.