Watch as Caithness Beach Cleaners use ingenious method to lift 70 creels from Groats coast

An environmental group that clears the Caithness coast from plastic and other items that pose a danger to aquatic life removed around 70 creels from near John O'Groats recently.

Caithness Beach Cleans (CBC) sent pictures and a video to the newspaper that showed how its volunteers used an ingenious way of dealing with a major ecological problem.

CBC founder Dorcas Sinclair worked together with her husband Allan and other volunteers to remove the discarded creels from the beach below the mill at John O'Groats. "There were about 70 old creels, bits of creels, a hunk of rope, tyres and salmon farm pipe. It was strenuous work but everyone enjoyed it," said Dorcas.

"We set up a Tyrolean traverse and used the quad to pull it. People at the bottom collected the creels and put them onto the traverse, then the person in charge of it at the top signalled to the quad driver who then drove away, pulling the rope to lift the creel. We removed about 70 creels this way."

Dorcas sent thanks to the John O'Groats Mill Trust, which is working on an ambitious project to bring the category "B" listed mill back into use as a heritage visitor attraction and community venue, for access to the site and the help it gave.

The huge number of creels gives credence to Allan Sinclair's view that most of the items recovered from the coast are fishing related. In an earlier article Allan said that there seemed to be a reluctance to accept that "most of the waste is fishing related" and that, while other areas may be different, "well over 95 per cent is found locally by weight".

The CBC group has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/2561533860586878 and welcomes new members to help keep the Caithness coast clear from rubbish.

Dorcas and Allan can also be emailed at: caithnessbeachcleans@gmail.com

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