Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre

Two volunteers, one male and one female smiling holding litter picks, wearing yellow hi-vis vests

The background

Founded in 1996 as part of the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales, the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Community Group is committed to conserving marine wildlife while engaging the local community.

From the start, they’ve been alarmed by the rising litter on beaches and its threat to both the environment and wildlife.

With a focus on tackling plastic waste, the group runs regular beach cleans on New Quay Beach and educates the public about the impact of litter.

Why did Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Community Centre create a community group?

In 1996, the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre had a goal of raising awareness for the marine wildlife in Cardigan Bay. However, one alarming issue quickly became evident: the rapidly increasing amount of litter that was impacting the local wildlife.

Recognising the urgent need for action, the founders arranged for a group of dedicated volunteers to begin beach cleans. Since then, we’ve relocated to New Quay, where the litter problem persists, especially during summertime, and we’ve continued our efforts to keep the beaches clean through regular beach clean events.

Have you ran any local campaigns with your group, that has proven highly successful?

A few years ago, we launched the Plastic Free New Quay initiative, partnering with local organisations to encourage businesses, residents, and visitors to reduce their plastic consumption. Our campaign included posters around the local community, social media posts, and raising awareness at our stands. At these stands, we educated the public about the harmful impact of plastic litter and promoted alternatives to single-use plastics.

The campaign successfully raised awareness, with an increase in community engagement and participation in litter picking activities. We saw more people taking part in local clean-ups and adopting plastic-free habits.

While we celebrated the ban on single-use plastics, our mission to eliminate plastic waste from our beaches is ongoing. This effort continues through our annual beach clean events, PlastOff, which have grown in attendance over the years. Through these events, we not only clean the beaches but also continue to educate the public about the long-term damage plastics cause to our environment and wildlife.

Do you have any successful stories about promoting your group?

Yes! Thanks to our beach clean promotions on Facebook and Instagram, our efforts caught the attention of S4C, leading to an appearance on the choir show Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.

They learned about our work through social media and our initiatives at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre and reached out to feature us in a segment about litter and the importance of group litter picks.

To find out more about the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Community Group, visit their Facebook Page and Instagram.

Our volunteers are the heroes of New Quay, dedicating their time and passion to keeping our beaches tidy. Without their tireless efforts, a litter free New Quay wouldn't be possible. It's heartbreaking to see wildlife, like seabirds, interacting with litter, putting their health at risk! Thanks to our volunteers, we're not just preserving a cleaner environment, but also protecting the wildlife that call it home.
Laura Evans Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Community Group Leader