England’s cleanest beaches for 2019 have been revealed with Brighton and Whitby among those making the list.
This year, a total of 71 beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status – up from 65 last year.
The Blue Flag is a guarantee to visitors that the beach has excellent facilities, is litter free and has achieved a high standard of water quality.
A view of the promenade, beach and pier in Cromer in Norfolk, which has managed to retain its Blue Flag status
Whitby beach, pictured, is the only beach in Yorkshire to be awarded a Blue Flag in 2019. The Blue Flag is a guarantee to visitors that the beach has excellent facilities, is litter free and has achieved a high standard of water quality
And Blue Flags are only given to beaches whose local authority has promised to run a minimum of five educational activities for the local community and visitors to make people aware of the importance of looking after the natural environment.
This year’s results were announced today by Keep Britain Tidy, which administers the Blue Flag scheme in England, and the winners will be presented with their flags at a ceremony in Margate.
Well-known beaches retaining their Blue Flags for another year include Cromer in Norfolk, Thorpe Bay in Southend-on-Sea, Tynemouth Sands in North Tyneside, Margate, West Wittering, Sandbanks in Poole and Westward Ho! in Devon.
Beaches making it on to the list this year after missing out last year are Cleethorpes, Westbrook Bay in Margate, Bournemouth Manor Steps, Exmouth, Croyde Bay, Teignmouth Town, Broadsands, Preston Sands and Torre Abbey Sands.
Several beaches in the Poole area won Blue Flags. These include Sandbanks, pictured, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs, and Branksome Chine
Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, said: ‘Visiting beaches with the Blue Flag or Seaside Award status means beach-goers can feel more relaxed in a setting that is environmentally considerate.’ Pictured is Porthtowan beach in Cornwall, which has Blue Flag status
One of the most well-known beaches to lose its Blue Flag status this year is Blackpool South. Others that lost their flag this year include Southwold Pier in Suffolk, Leysdown Beach off the Isle of Sheppey and Polzeath Beach in Cornwall.
In addition, 137 beaches across the country were also given Seaside Awards, which recognise the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, indicate that they meet the required standards for water quality.
Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, said: ‘Visiting beaches with the Blue Flag or Seaside Award status means beach-goers can feel more relaxed in a setting that is environmentally considerate.
‘We’re incredibly pleased to have even more winners this year than last, proving the great dedication of the beach staff.
Blue Flag beaches have to run a minimum of five educational activities for the local community and visitors to make people aware of the importance of looking after the natural environment. Pictured is Blue Flag status beach West Wittering
Swanage beach in Dorset has achieved Blue Flag status for another year. This year’s results were announced by Keep Britain Tidy, which administers the Blue Flag scheme in England
Tynemouth Longsands was one of six beaches in the north east to get Blue Flag status. The others included King Edwards Bay, Whitley Bay, Roker, Seaburn and Saltburn by the Sea
‘From environmental education for the local community and ensuring responsible beach use, to cleaning regimes and an increasing number of recycling facilities, it is a full-time commitment to create beaches worthy of the awards.
‘Thanks to the Blue Flag, visitors can be reassured their destination is cared for and they will be able to help maintain the high standards of these awards thanks to their environmental initiatives.’
Meanwhile research from Keep Keep Britain Tidy has revealed that 74 per cent of those under the age of 35 say they are ‘triggered’ with guilt when they go to the beach and see plastic litter.
Almost two thirds (60 per cent) experience eco-anxiety when seeing tourist destinations littered with plastic and no sustainable facilities to dispose of it, the study showed.
Research from Keep Keep Britain Tidy has revealed that 74 per cent of those under the age of 35 say they are ‘triggered’ with guilt when they go to the beach and see plastic litter. The picture shows Sea Palling Beach – a Blue Flag recipient
According to Keep Britain Tidy the newly dubbed ‘Attenborough Effect’ is contributing to cleaner public spaces, with more than half (54 per cent) of people saying the nature documentaries fronted by Sir David Attenborough have encouraged them to personally clear up discarded litter. Pictured is Brighton’s Blue Flag beach
And Keep Britain Tidy says the newly dubbed ‘Attenborough Effect’ is contributing to cleaner public spaces, with more than half (54 per cent) of people saying the nature documentaries fronted by Sir David Attenborough have encouraged them to personally clear up discarded litter.
The research also shows that Brits are a generation of eco-worriers, with 80 per cent saying they would feel more relaxed spending the day at a beach that has recycling bins and signs encouraging people not to leave anything behind.
A huge 88 per cent of all respondents said that their eco-anxiety is lessened by knowing hundreds of beaches in the UK are following and implementing programmes that encourage responsible beach use.