Beach cleans
Join one of our beach clean surveys and help keep Britain's beaches beautiful and our ocean safe for wildlife.
As well as cleaning up our coastline, Beachwatch volunteers 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
Find a beach clean
Every year thousands of people run beach cleans all over the UK. Take a look and find one near you.
Organise a beach clean
Organising a beach clean and survey is easy. Log on - or create a volunteer account - and then follow the simple steps.
Great British Beach Clean
Every September thousands of people across the UK head to the coast to take part in the Great British Beach Clean. Next year's event is taking place between Friday 19th - Sunday 28th September 2025. Find out how you can get involved and how it helps.
Team beach cleans
Looking for a team building opportunity or unique outing for your company? Make your next company away day an outdoor activity that’s brilliant for bonding and even better for the environment.
Beach cleans for schools and groups
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.
Organise a beach clean for your volunteer day
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.
Beach clean resources
Here you'll find a useful library of guides and resources to help you join us in our vital work to restore the health of our oceans.
The importance of beach cleaning data
Our beach cleans are a little bit different - we not only clean, but survey the litter found at the beach too. The data you collect from these cleans makes real positive changes to our beaches and seas.
Beachwatch 2023: What you found
A huge thank you to everyone who got involved with a beach clean or litter survey in 2023. Here's a full breakdown of the results.
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 with a JustGiving page. It is a simple and effective way to set up a fundraiser and for people to donate online, allowing you to keep track of how much you have raised. Set up your JustGiving page.
Alternatively, once your event is up and running, you can use your phone as a contactless device to take donations on the day and in the lead up to the event. Download the Givestar app today.
Beach clean organiser training
If you'd like some beach clean refresher training, or are thinking of holding your first beach clean event, we're running a series of free online training sessions. We’ll be covering how to create a beach clean event page, what to bring on the day, how to undertake your litter survey, and how to submit your results.
