Dorset Council’s Litter Free Dorset Support Officer, Emma Jackson, has told KeeP 106 that the 35th Great Dorset Beach Clean has concluded with remarkable success, showcasing the power of community spirit and dedication to protecting our beautiful coastline. Over the course of one week, 297 enthusiastic volunteers came together to clean 15 beaches, removing a staggering 327kg of rubbish. This event was a testament to the collective effort of the community, with participants from all walks of life coming together to make a significant environmental impact.
The event, organised by Litter Free Dorset, saw the involvement of 13 diverse groups, ranging from community groups and local businesses to charities and organisations. Participants included Lyme Litter Pickers, Dorset Police Cadets, Yoga with Leah Miles, Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Easy Riders, Water Babes UK, Swanage Beach Buddies, Clean Jurassic Coast, Sida Yoga, Dorset Goes Wild, Lulworth Rangers, and the National Trust. Their combined efforts were instrumental in the success of the event.
Volunteers collected 130 bags of rubbish, including some unusual items such as school workbooks, a beach roll mat, car tyres, and lots of socks! Alongside these interesting finds, common items including cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, glass bottles, cans, and fishing gear were also removed, significantly improving the cleanliness of our beaches.
Community support played a crucial role in the event’s success; special thanks goes to Baboo Gelato, who generously provided free hot drinks or ice cream to all volunteers cleaning up Lyme Regis beach. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to Maciej Pacek from Bournemouth University for capturing the event’s spirit through his beautiful photographs.
The weather was stunning throughout the week, although the first weekend brought strong winds that made holding bags open a challenge. Despite this, volunteers persisted with unwavering determination, demonstrating their commitment to the cause.
The Great Dorset Beach Clean is more than just an environmental effort; it’s also a celebration of community spirit. Volunteers enjoy giving back, meeting like-minded individuals, and working together towards a common goal.
Dorset Goes WILD organised a beach clean at Hengistbury Head, with participants expressing their commitment to coastal protection. “We joined this year’s Great Dorset Beach Clean because protecting our coast matters to us,” said a representative.
Leah Miles, a Beach Yoga Instructor based at West Bay, led a clean at Cogden Beach. She shared her positive experience: “The clean went well; we cleared bagsful and larger pieces that would have been difficult to manage alone. It was great to meet new people and to feel we’d made a really positive impact on our beautiful environment by working together.”
The success of the Great Dorset Beach Clean is a testament to the power of community action. One family who attended the Durdle Door beach clean said how they had been coming to various GDBC events for years. We look forward to continuing this tradition and making an even greater impact in the years to come.
For more information, please contact: emma.jackson@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Photo, by Maciej Pacek, shows some of the volunteers collecting rubbish at Lake Pier, Poole.