Volunteers around the country found our naturist beaches a mixed bag, some were piled high with plastic and discarded commercial fishing tackle, others were superficially clean but still needed a clean up.
What is Beachwatch?
Beachwatch is an annual survey and cleanup of UK beaches organised on the 3rd weekend in September by Emma Snowden of the Marine Conservation Society. The survey is important as it provides valuable information about the state of our shores and indicates the scale of the pollution problem in our seas. Our third year helping the Marine Conservation Society resulted in 8 naturist beaches being included in the annual survey. Our thanks go to all the organisers and volunteers for giving up their valuable time to help this worthy cause.
Why is it important?
By participating in the survey BN is helping to raise awareness of pollution and contributing to a very worthwhile cause; it is also an opportunity to build bridges and develop relationships with the wider community of beach lovers in the UK. Over time by being involved in activities such as Beachwatch it can only help preserve a lifestyle many of us enjoy.
Beach Reports
Studland, Dorset
Around 10 volunteers including a couple of the National Trust Rangers who joined in for a while plus a regular beach user participated this year, says Steve A. The weather was warm enough for a naturist beach clean, the sea a little too cold to swim although a few brave souls did have a quick dip. Due to strong winds and tides the week prior to the beach clean there were loads of plastic rope and strings washed up (126 pieces in total). We didn’t find anything unusual this year just the usual suspects of cigarette stubs (239) and plastic bottles and sandwich wrappers (289 pieces of plastic in total). Thanks to Emma Wright of the National Trust and all the Rangers for their help and support. We collected 9kg of rubbish in six bags over a two to three hour period.
Budleigh Salterton, Devon
It was pleasant but breezy on 19 September, the day of the Budleigh Salterton clean up, report Nigel and Rachel who between them collected only 2 bags of litter. Having given the beach a really good clean last year (the first time it’s probably ever been done) there wasn’t much rubbish this time round. The haul came to 6.1kg which included a 2kg WW2 iron picket.
Morfa Dyffryn Beach
An encouraging number of BN members travelled in some cases long distances, despite the fact that the morning of the 19th September was overcast and dull, reports Steve K. Brian, Richard, David, Tom, Ross, John and Patricia all came to help. At first glance the beach looked very tidy but there were 28 plastic drinks containers, 14 drinks cans, and 47 plastic caps or lids which came as a surprise. We recorded 61 cigarette stubs, but by far the most items recorded were pieces of fishing net, 165 separate lengths and an additional 337 lengths of cord, rope and string. Six bin liners of waste altogether. Later in the afternoon, unfortunately after John and Patricia had left for the long journey home, the sun came out and allowed those remaining to enjoy lunch, to take clothes off and do some sunbathing before leaving in the afternoon.
Shoreham (Portslade)
John R, John K, Will, and regular beach user Fred, surveyed an area of beach 170m x 15m finding a total of 191 items weighing around 70kg in total and filling a dozen rubbish sacks. They then started a general clear up of the whole area of beach which was approximately 650m x 15m and not in a good state. The haul included 24 bits of plastic, 19 pieces of rope and 16 plastic bottles and some bigger pieces of metal and plastic. An e-mail to Shoreham Port thanking them for allowing us to include the beach in “Beachwatch” and coincidently highlighting the poor state of the beach was ignored.
Brighton
Brighton Naturist Beach was in fairly good condition, says Andrew. It was warm enough to be nude and there were a few others enjoying some warm rays. John and he did the whole beach which is 200m instead of 100m and collected 3kg of debris. The Royal Marines were using the adjoining beach for launching their boats “which was interesting,” he says.
Leysdown, Kent
The weather was warm and sunny for the duration of the clean and the beach had up to 30 people on it, reports Keith who collected 228 items weighing 6.7 kg, mostly on his own after two volunteers dropped out and a third was delayed. His highlight was getting in the local paper, a chance to give a good impression of the naturist beach although he found three shoes, and a swimming costume. Perhaps it was from a sudden convert to the naturist cause”, he said.
Beachwatch 2010
We aim to include all UK naturist beaches in the survey by 2012. It is a fun day out and once you’ve done the survey you can have a picnic and enjoy the beach with your friends for the rest of the day. Why not come and join us in 2010 either as an organiser or a volunteer helper. If you live close to a naturist beach and would like it to be considered for next year, please get in touch by email vicechairman@british-naturism.org.uk or call Steve on 07734 761363 for more information.
