A male using a litter picker to pick up a plastic bottle on a beach. A Marine Conservation Society banner is to the right of the man.

Beach cleans

Join one of our beach clean surveys and help keep Britain's beaches beautiful and our ocean safe for wildlife.
Find a beach clean near you

    Whether you’re joining a local clean-up or organising your own event, beach cleaning helps protect our ocean and the wildlife that depends on it. A Marine Conservation Society beach clean is different than others because we are also interested in recording what is found.

    We ask our Beachwatch volunteers to note down all the items they find in a 100m stretch of beach. Every lolly stick, lost toy or piece of plastic - we record it. This data is hugely important as it helps us track litter back to source, and enables us to campaign for change.

    Got a question? Email the team at beachwatch@mcsuk.org

    Check out the beachwatch dashboard

    Over the past 31 years, our volunteers have been collecting important data on the types and amounts of litter found on the UK and Channel Islands’ coastline, which we’ve used to campaign for positive change. Now, you can take a closer look at what they’ve found with our new interactive dashboard.

    Explore the UK’s litter history with our interactive dashboard

    Find a beach clean

    Make a powerful impact in just an hour. Use our interactive map to discover beach cleans taking place across the UK. Join organised events led by local volunteers, meet like‑minded people, and help remove and record harmful litter before it reaches the sea.

    Everyone is welcome. No experience is required.

    Find your nearest beach clean
    A person wearing a navy blue Marine Conservation Society t-shirt, jeans, and a tan cap laughing while using a litter picker. The camera angle is low, looking up at the person against a bright, clear blue sky. A blurred plastic bottle is in the foreground.

    A member of Marine Conservation Society picking up a plastic bottle from the beach  |  Image credit: Rose Bainbridge

    Don't live near a beach?

    Do an inland clean instead

    Organise a beach clean

    Want to take the next step? Our step‑by‑step toolkit gives you everything you need to host a safe, successful beach clean from risk assessments and equipment lists to promotional materials.

    It’s easy, rewarding and a powerful way to inspire others to protect the places they love.

    We ask that organisers set up a volunteer account with us so that we can help ensure beach clean data is correctly recorded.

    Organise a beach clean
    A woman wearing snglasses and an orange hi-vis vest is placing a teal flag onto a pole. Behind he is a beach.

    A beach clean organiser setting up a beach clean marker flag  |  Image credit: Matthew Johnstone

    Beach clean organiser training

    If you'd like some beach clean refresher training, or are thinking of holding your first beach clean event, check out our training pages below.

    The Great British Beach Clean

    Every September, people across the UK come together for our biggest annual clean-up and citizen‑science survey. By recording every piece of litter collected, volunteers provide vital data that helps shape government policy and reduce pollution at its source. One week. Thousands of volunteers. Real change.

    Join the movement and be part of a nationwide push for cleaner, healthier seas.

    Learn more about the Great British Beach Clean
    A woman wearing a hi-vis orange vest has her back to the camera. She is in front of a group of volunteers. Her vest reads Marine Conservation Society.

    A beach clean officer speaking to a group of volunteers  |  Image credit: Sam Teale Productions

    Beach clean forms

    Check out our forms page that provides everything needed to run a successful beach clean, including litter survey forms with guidance and useful tools, a summary form for recording event details, a photo ID guide to help identify tricky items, organiser training videos covering planning through to evaluation, and a comprehensive guide with safety information and practical advice for the day.

    Download your beach clean forms
    A close-up shot of a person holding a clipboard with a Marine Conservation Society beach clean survey form. The user's hands and a pen are visible as they potentially make notes on the form.

    A close-up of a Marine Conservation Society beach clean survey form  |  Image credit: Dean Chapple

    A humpback whale swimming alone in the ocean

    Fundraise at your beach clean

    Beach cleaning is a great opportunity to not only do your bit for the ocean but to fundraise for us too. A sponsored beach clean couldn't be easier.

    Check out our fundraising resources

    Other types of beach cleans

    A man showing the camera pieces of debris found on the beach. He is holding a plastic fork, an oyster peg, some string, a popper and a plastic wrapper

    Company beach cleans

    Volunteer with us at one of our bookable company team beach clean events and give your employees a fulfilling day out of the office whilst making a huge difference to the marine environment.
    4 school children looking at the camera wearing hi-vis jackets and gloves on. The girl on the far left is holding a litter picker and the boy that is centre right is holding a clipboard. They are on a beach

    School & group beach cleans

    Beach cleaning empowers children to do their bit for nature. By learning how their actions impact on our oceans we hope the next generation will be inspired to take up the fight against marine litter.
    A woman in an orange hi-vis vest holding up a bag of litter with her right arm. She is standing on a pebble beach and is smiling.

    Volunteer day beach cleans

    Discover the step-by-step process of organising a beach clean for a rewarding volunteer day. Our comprehensive guide provides expert tips and practical advice to set up a successful event and maximise its impact.