Charity reveals country’s best beaches with announcement of Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2018 – with 18 presented to beaches in Bournemouth and Poole
This year, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is presenting 190 awards to England’s very best beaches, including 65 international Blue Flags and 125 Seaside Awards (eight more than last year), with 42 beaches achieving both awards.
Not only have beaches in Bournemouth and Poole held onto the eight Blue Flags and two Seaside Awards of previous years, the resorts have added eight new Seaside Awards to their haul.
Bournemouth and Poole can now boast a combined total of 18 Keep Britain Tidy accolades and join the country’s very best beaches, from popular holiday spots to quiet, more hidden-away spots. What unites them all is knowing that they are clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as the tough international bathing water quality standards.
Bournemouth and Poole’s Blue Flag beaches are Alum Chine, Branksome Chine, Canford Cliffs, Durley Chine, Fishermans Walk, Sandbanks, Shore Road and Southbourne.
Now, for the first time, all eight Blue Flag beaches join Boscombe Pier and Bournemouth Pier in achieving Seaside Awards.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “The success of the 148 beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded by both awards is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our beaches – from beach managers and volunteers to local people and businesses.
“When you enjoy a trip to a beach flying an international Blue Flag or Seaside Award, you know you are on one of the safest, cleanest and very best in the country.”
Featuring the UK’s Best Beach as voted in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards earlier this year as well as Europe’s largest natural harbour, Bournemouth and Poole have just enjoyed their busiest bank holiday yet – testament to the popularity of this stretch of the South Coast.
Councillor Pat Oakley, Portfolio Holder responsible for Tourism in Bournemouth, said: “We’re delighted to be a recipient in the Keep Britain Tidy awards. Having been named the UK’s Best Seaside Town in the British Travel Awards 2017, we’re proud to have made this achievement in conjunction with our neighbours in Poole. This truly is the coast with the most!”
Councillor John Challinor, Portfolio Holder responsible for Tourism in Poole, said: “This is fantastic news for residents and visitors alike. Whether you use the beach for work, rest or play, these awards demonstrate our commitment to the highest standards of cleanliness and safety right across our 10-mile stretch of coastline.”
Luke Watkins, Senior Ranger in Bournemouth and Poole, said: “This is fantastic news for the team. A lot of hard work goes into caring for our beaches – from the teams who run a variety of facilities along the seafront to cleansing staff who are dedicated to the upkeep of our picturesque coastline all year round. Alongside the endorsement from Keep Britain Tidy, the greatest reward is to see people enjoying themselves in our beautiful surroundings.”
Ahead of the spring bank holiday and start of half-term, the resorts are also promoting a new Leave Only Footprints campaign. Everyone who visits the beaches is asked to help maintain their award-winning standards by clearing up after themselves at the end of the day and putting rubbish in the correct bins provided.
