AN INNOVATIVE new scheme to protect and maintain Dwyfor and Meirionnydd’s spectacular beaches has started on the Llyn Peninsula.

North Wales’ first ‘two-minute beach clean’ station has arrived outside Dylan’s in Criccieth, as part of the Llyn Marine Ecosystems Project.

Aimed at encouraging people to spend a few minutes to remove litter and help keep the local coastline clean, the board is a beach cleaning station, with a holder for litter pickers and bags.

The idea was conceived as a way of making it easier for the public to clean the beach, even if only for two minutes, then to show an example to others by posting a picture on social media using the #2minutebeachclean hashtag.

The first beach-clean station was placed at Crooklets beach in Bude, north Cornwall, in September 2014.

Since then, over 200 beach-clean stations have been placed across the UK and Ireland, with Criccieth being the first in north Wales.

Dylan’s restaurant has agreed to take responsibility for putting the board out, weather permitting, and taking it back inside each evening, as well as ensuring bags and litter pickers are stocked up.

Dylan’s director David Evans said: “We’re always really keen to get involved with projects that help protect the coastal environment. Since we opened in Criccieth, we’ve been supporting regular community beach clean sessions.

The #2minutebeachclean board is another great way to encourage our customers and visitors to the town to play their part to keep our local beaches clean.”

This comes as a result of marine litter monitoring work by the Llyn Marine Ecosystems Project, carrying out surveys with volunteers regularly to recognise any trends, and to assess the source of the litter collected on Morannedd beach.

Cllr Dafydd Meurig, Gwynedd Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “The idea behind the campaign is that every piece of litter removed from the beach matters. So it doesn’t matter if you do two minutes or half an hour. Each and every piece of marine plastic removed from the beach is a piece that will no longer go on to harm our wildlife. We are very thankful for Dylan’s continued support to this community project and for agreeing to be a guardian.”

Cllr Robert Dafydd Cadwalader from Criccieth Town Council added: “The town council is involved in the regular beach cleans and litter monitoring sessions organised by the Llyn Marine Ecosystems Project. There are already a few walkers and visitors who pick up rubbish and this will encourage more to join in. This is a brilliant idea and the council fully supports it.”