Dates for the 32nd annual Great Dorset Beach Clean have been announced with events taking place in Studland, Lulworth, Kimmeridge and Chapman’s Pool.
The litter picks, taking place in Purbeck over the weekends 2nd to 3rd April and 9th to 10th April 2022, have a practical purpose but are also quite social occasions.
In Studland for the Great Dorset Beach Clean in 2021
“An Easter litter hunt”
This year there are 16 beach cleans, hosted by local organisations and community groups, taking place along the Dorset coast, from Lyme Regis to Christchurch.
Sophie Colley, Litter Free Dorset’s coordinator said:
“Get involved with this year’s Great Dorset Beach Clean to have some fun, meet like minded people from the community and take part in an Easter litter hunt.
“Help us clear up our beaches prior to the summer season so we can spread the message that in Dorset we like to keep our beaches clean.”
Beach cleans in Purbeck
Saturday 2nd April 2022
Studland
- Shell Bay 10.30 am to 12 noon Book a place
- Knoll Beach 10.30 am to 12 noon Book a place
- South Beach 1 pm to 2.30 pm Book a place
Lulworth
- Lulworth Cove 11 am to 12 noon Book a place via email rangers@lulworth.com
- Durdle Door 1 pm to 3 pm Book a place via email rangers@lulworth.com
Saturday 9th April 2022
- Kimmeridge 2 pm to 4 pm Book a place
Sunday 10th April 2022
Worth Matravers
- Chapman’s Pool 10.30 am to 1.30 pm Book a place
Lulworth
- Durdle Door 3 pm to 5 pm Book a place
There are also Dorset beach cleans taking place in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Seatown, Charmouth and Lyme Regis.
Although not part of the official Great Dorset Beach Clean, there will be the regular Swanage Beach Buddies litter picks taking place from 9 am on Sundays and Tuesdays on Swanage Beach in April 2022 and continuing throughout the year.
An old lobster pot discovered on Swanage Beach in 2021
Rubbish included tyres, buried rusty lobster pots, tents, oil drums and a gazebo
Last year’s 2021 Great Dorset Beach Clean saw more than 300 volunteers take part, with 19 cleans along the Dorset coast.
Litter Free Dorset estimated that they took away a total of around 165 bags of rubbish including tyres, buried rusty lobster pots, tents, oil drums and a gazebo.
The main aim is not only to prevent new materials from entering the marine environment but also to remove materials and degrading plastics that have been washed ashore, that may have been in the sea for many years.
This, of course, improves bathing water quality and creates a better environment for marine life.
The volunteers head out to pick up litter in Studland in 2021
Reduction in number of plastic bags
Lizzie Prior, beachwatch manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said:
“The Great Dorset Beach Clean is a fantastic project, and we’re really pleased to be involved in this year’s events. We’ll be hosting a beach clean and litter survey for volunteers on 5th April 2022.
“The data our volunteers collect has a direct impact on our work at the Marine Conservation Society; it helped us to push for plastic bag charges across the UK and we’ve since seen the numbers of bags on beaches consistently drop.
“From a high of 13 on average in 2013, to just three per 100 metres in 2021. Getting involved in beach cleaning projects is a fantastic opportunity to get outdoors, give back and protect our ocean.”
More information
- Contact Litter Free Dorset via email or visits its website
- More about Swanage Beach Buddies and the Swanage Landers is on the Litter Free Purbeck website
