Orkney beachcomber’s delight as 40 years’ worth of fishy finds to be reused!

Trawling Orkney’s beaches looking for “treasure” is a passion for West Mainland beachcomber, Martin Gray.

Stashing away his finds – from polystyrene fishing floats to plastic octopus pots, driftwood to creel hooks – Martin is always hopeful that one day he will find a second use for these shoreline goodies.

When he spotted that the Council were recommending recycled creel hooks as one option to help keep bin lids closed on windy days in Orkney – he knew he could help!

“Folk have been beachcombing in Orkney since the days of Skara Brae – you go to some of these ancient monuments and there you will find, for example, flint and whalebones taken from the shore. For thousands of years people have been making use of the things that they find on our beaches.

“I usually find one or two creel hooks when I head to the beach. I always take them home and string them up in the shed. I have amassed around 250 from over the years hoping that one day I – or someone else – would find a use for them.”

Coincidentally, Martin already uses creel hooks on his own bins to secure the lids – and read the Council news with interest.

“I saw that the Council were recommending two additional options to folk looking for a solution to keeping their bin lids secure on windy days. One of them is the Wheelie Bin Closer produced by the small voluntary group Caithness Beach Cleans where they recycle creel hooks found washed up on the beaches. Finally, after all this time, here’s the perfect use for the 250 hooks I have in my shed!”

On spotting the Council article on social media, Martin offered up the “treasure” and in no time Dorcas Sinclair, from Caithness Beach Cleans, was in touch to say they would take the lot!

Martin has the hooks ready in a bundle for shipping across to the group on Thursday.

“I am delighted to see these hooks being recycled for a very good cause and ultimately, some of them may well end up back in Orkney - but attached to a bin lid this time and not on the beach!

“More often than not these items end up lost at sea accidentally and washed up ashore becoming visible and, in effect, litter. It’s great that they will have found a respectable use once more. I often have folk getting in touch with me to see if I can help with items – if I have them folk are more than welcome to come and take them for free, although I usually ask that they make a donation of their choice to charity.”

Caithness hooks are available online https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StormWashed at £5.50 and help fund Caithness Beach Cleans.

There’s a second option for anyone looking for a solution - Schafer bin clips – and are available to purchase from Customer Services at School Place in Kirkwall and the Warehouse Building in Stromness for £5.50 each.

Just to reiterate the two bin clips are only necessary if folk haven’t managed to find a workable solution already. If residents have found a solution that is working well for them and their waste and recycling is being collected, then there’s no need to do anything else.

Folk can continue to put small stones on bin lids during bad weather if that’s required and bungee cords and ropes can still be used when storing bins prior to collection as long as they are removed on bin day.

Hayley Green, the Council’s Corporate Director of Neighbourhood Services and Infrastructure, said: “We are very grateful to Martin for the offer to share his beach finds for this worthy cause – not only is he cleaning up Orkney’s beaches, but these particular finds will help a voluntary group across the water – and in turn assist folk in the county who remain looking for a solution to keeping their bin lids shut on windy days.

“It’s great that beach litter is being turned into bin clips to keep rubbish contained!”

She added: “Folk have been very patient while the team have researched and trialled bin clip options and many purchases have been made already of both types by Orkney residents.

“Caithness Beach Clean clips are working hard to keep up with demand so please bear with them – they are a small group doing some great work and they are restocking as they make more.”

There’s lots more information and FAQs on keeping a lid on your bin here: www.orkney.gov.uk/binclips or https://www.orkney.gov.uk/News?postid=7279