Litter Free Dorset has announced the 35th Great Dorset Beach Clean will take place from 5th to 13th April 2025, and everyone is invited to join in this community effort to keep our coastline in pristine condition. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than last year’s, with beach cleans happening all along the Dorset coast, from Lyme Regis to Poole.
A Family-Friendly Easter Half Term Activity
Taking place during the Easter half term, the Great Dorset Beach Clean is a family-friendly event, free for anyone to attend. It’s an excellent opportunity to enjoy the stunning Dorset coastline, meet new people, and learn about the importance of taking care of the environment.
Building on Last Year’s Success
Last year, despite stormy weather, over 200 dedicated volunteers came together to clean up eight beaches across Dorset. Their hard work resulted in the removal of hundreds of kilos of litter, including fishing gear, hard plastics, and even some unusual items like brooms and a fridge! The data collected during these cleanups is invaluable, helping organisations such as the Marine Conservation Society to inform government policies aimed at reducing litter and protecting marine environments.
Join the Effort and Make a Difference
This year, we aim to surpass last year’s achievements and make an even greater impact. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, get active, or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery, the Great Dorset Beach Clean has something for everyone.
Why Join the Great Dorset Beach Clean?
Some of the most commonly littered items on our beaches are plastic bottles and cigarette butts. All plastics will gradually break down into smaller pieces called microplastics which remain in the environment forever, where they can be ingested by wildlife or leach chemicals into our precious coastal and marine environments. Beach cleans are part of the vital effort to remove litter from our beaches, and they are a great opportunity for communities to come together.
Kim, a long-time beach clean volunteer, shared her experience: “Me and mum join the beach clean every year at different locations, and wherever we go, there is always a wonderful sense of community. Everyone pulls together to get the job done, and we always have such a laugh at the same time. We’ve been going for 10 years now and will be continuing for the next 10 at least!”
Get Involved!
We encourage everyone to participate in this year’s Great Dorset Beach Clean. Bring your friends, family, and neighbours to help us make a difference. If you attend any of the events, don’t forget to tag @litterfreedorset in your photos and use the hashtag #GDBC35 to spread the word. You can find the full schedule of beach cleans here: Great Dorset Beach Clean
Saturday 5th April
- Cogden Beach
- Lyme Regis
Sunday 6th April
- West Bexington
- Shore Road, Sandbanks
- Charmouth
- Swanage
- Chesil Cove
Monday 7th April
- Hengistbury Head
Wednesday 9th April
- Lake Pier, Poole
Saturday 12th April
- Durdle Door
- Man O’ War Beach
- Seatown
Sunday 13th April
- Ringstead
- Shell Bay, Studland
- Swanage
Volunteers from last year’s event at Kimmeridge Bay, where 104kg of litter was collected in just two hours!