Gunfleet Joins The Big Society

The Big Society came to Holland on Sea last Saturday 12 February when Gunfleet Sailing Club teamed up with Tendring District Council to cut back the tamarisk on the cliff ready for the summer season.  Over 40 members took part in the operation and, in glorious weather, cut the tamarisk back on the seafront cliffs, as well as litter picking and generally tidying up the area.  The Council’s Horticultural Services supplied a grounds maintenance office and a shredder and it wasn’t long before the area was looking all “ship shape”.
 
Gunfleet’s Rear Commodore June Richardson said “The members are nearly all residents of the area and are very proud of both their Club and the seafront.  The wintertime is normally a quiet period for the Club and this is an excellent way of bringing the members together and doing something positive in the community”.

The Sailing Club, which has been operating for 50 years, is currently on a crest of a wave with record membership, including over 70 young people. 
“As well as teaching young people to sail we are keen to see them both respect and put something back into the community; the cliff clearance was just one such opportunity and reflects the ethos of the Big Society”.

As well as cutting back the tamarisk the members filled 5 sacks with litter discarded on the cliffs.

Then, in the evening, members met up once more to hold an exciting game of Beetle Drive.  Following a Pizza extravaganza the game got on in earnest with teams eagerly throwing dice to try and complete their insect.  Based more on hilarity than intensity the evening proved a great success and a welcome break from the winter gloom.