The Great Dorset Beach Clean is returning for its 31st event over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd May with over 20 locations lined up.
The annual event attracts hundreds of volunteers every year to help keep the county’s beaches clean from litter but had to be cancelled last year because of concerns regarding social distancing during the pandemic. More than 700 people joined in in 2019, though because of ongoing restrictions, places are limited this year and must be booked in advance.
The Great Dorset Beach Clean is being hosted by Litter Free Coast and Sea along with Clean Jurassic Coast, with help from a number of community groups including the Dorset Wildlife Trust, the National Trust and Leave Only Footprints.
Speaking about the upcoming event, Matilda Manley, the Project Co-Ordinator at Litter Free Coast and Sea Project, said: “We are excited to be running the Great Dorset Beach Clean again this year, it is obviously going to be a bit different and a little scaled back. However, we know that all the volunteers who help to lead the events and those who sign up to join in will make a big difference to our beautiful coastline. We look forward to seeing you on the beaches!”
Over the last few cleans, rubbish that has been collected from Dorset’s beaches have included aluminium cans, bits of polystyrene, bottle caps and lids, cotton wool, plastic bags, fishing lines and more.
The beaches that will be included in this year’s event are:
Seatown
Ferry Bridge, Chesil Causeway
Charmouth Beach
Shell Bay, Studland
Knoll Beach, Studland
Middle Beach, South Beach and Old Harry Rocks, Studland
Southbourne
Chesil Beach
Castle Cove, Weymouth
North Beach, Swanage
Chesil Cove
Boscombe Beach
Chapman’s Pool
Lulworth Cove
Durdle door
Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis
Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth
Lake Pier, Hamworthy
Highcliffe, Bournemouth
Cogden Beach
Sandbanks
You can find out more and join in by visiting the Litter Free Coast and Sea website here.
