Driftwood Spars Brewery has donated more than £4,000 to help charity Fathoms Free fund missions to recover ghost fishing gear and other plastic debris from the sea.
Driftwood Spars head brewer Tim Lawrence
Recent winter storms have seen the tons of plastic detritus in our oceans on the move. It washes up on beaches or finds its way into coves where it’s noticed by sea swimmers, surfers, and other cold-water enthusiasts.
Driftwood Spars Brewery is based in Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes, on the north coast of Cornwall, and is always keen to do its bit to help keep the sea clean. It has now handed over £4,395 to support Fathoms Free’s work.
“We’re pleased to make this latest donation, knowing that it makes a tangible difference to the health of the Cornish coastline where we live and work,” said Driftwood Spars’ head brewer, Tim Lawrence.
“We hand-craft beers here at our small-batch brewery within sight and sound of the sea, so a charity with a hands-on approach to cleaning the Cornish coast is the perfect partner.”
A percentage of profits from the sale of the Cove range of contemporary canned craft beers is donated to the charity each year.
The range comprises Stippy Stappy IPA, Seaberry Saison, Ocean Pale Ale, Dune Hazy Pale Ale, and Midnight Skinny Dipper Milk Stout. All feature artwork by Jago Silver, along with the Fathoms Free logo, to raise awareness and encourage personal responsibility when it comes to behaviour around the ocean.
Ghost gear recovery
Discarded nets, pots, angling equipment and other plastic causes severe damage to the marine environment and the death of countless seabirds, seals, dolphins, and other sea life. It’s a problem which is out of sight for many people. The ghost gear that washes up on our shores is only a tiny fraction of what’s out there.
Luke Bullus, from Fathoms Free, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing commitment of The Driftwood Spars Brewery. In recent years, the support we’ve received has made a measurable difference to our capacity for ghost gear recovery, and this latest donation will help us enormously in the year ahead.”
Brewery owner and regular sea swimmer Louise Treseder added: “As a community, the health of the marine environment is vitally important for our physical and mental wellbeing, and of course it’s one of the reasons people return to visit Trevaunance Cove year after year.
“We’ve seen the work of Fathoms Free first hand, so it’s fantastic to be able to contribute.”
