SAS grass roots tour comes to an end in Portrush

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) campaigners have finished another year's Grassroots Tour. Here's Campaigns Director Richard Hardy on what went down.

Each year SAS plans a weeklong tour to visit key watersport sites up and down the country. Over the last few years we’ve been the length and breadth of the country and met some great people who are passionate about protecting and improving their coastal environment for all to enjoy. This year’s tour was no different, with keen audiences checking out the latest SAS campaigns and watching our very own eco-surf documentary – View From The Greenroom.

This year’s tour took a west coast route, with stops in North Devon, South and North Wales, the gateway to Scotland’s West Coast, Glasgow, and the hub of Northern Ireland surfing – Portrush.

With our watery playgrounds under threat, those attending the talks were able to find out from SAS campaigners how issues like climate change and marine litter are choking our blue planet.

We also spoke about the key pollution issues of tomorrow and supporters got the inside track on how to campaign effectively in their own back yards with lessons in behind the scenes creative campaigning that SAS use in achieving victories for the environment. It was great to get out around our beautiful coastline to share what’s good (and what’s not) about using the UK’s beaches for recreation. We hope we’ve helped inspire a new batch of eco-surf warriors to help protect and preserve their breaks from damage in the future.

This year’s tour was supported by Patagonia Footwear. Thanks to them we were able to raffle off a pair of Patagonia Shoes and organic cotton shopping bags each night. Those entering the raffle during the tour stops will also go into a draw at the end of May, where they could yet win a brand new Eco-board.

Duncan Holme from Patagonia Footwear added: "Patagonia Footwear was proud to supporting Surfers Against Sewage on their Grassroots Tour and for helping us all to think about our environmental footprint."

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