Dozens of region's beaches awarded Blue Flags
This year 15 beaches in the South East and dozens of others across the South have been awarded prestigious Blue Flags. Seventy-one Blue Flags were awarded across the UK and Northern Ireland in total - 18 more than last year.
Keep Britain Tidy, who award the Blue Flags, are delighted at the high number given this year.
Blue Flags go to beaches which are clean, safe and meet high environmental and bathing water quality standards. They also 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.
Local authorities with an emphasis on the environment are Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The area now boasts a combined total of nine Blue Flags and runs a litter campaign.
Leave Only Footprints was devised in 2018 with the intention of encouraging beach-goers to clear up after their day at the seaside, putting rubbish in the bins provided.
It's grown in the last year and now 1575 volunteer hours have been spent on litter picks and beach cleans across Bournemouth and Poole in the last year.
A poll by for Keep Britain Tidy suggests many people feel a sense of guilt, or even "eco-anxiety", when they go to a beach or other tourist destination and see plastic rubbish around.
About four fifths of the 2,003 people questioned agreed they would feel more relaxed going to a beach with recycling bins that is less likely to havelitter.
BLUE FLAG BEACHES:
Brighton Central
Hove Lawns
Tankerton
Marina St Leonards
Hayling Island Beachlands
Sheerness Beach
Minster Leas
Minnis Bay
West Bay
St Mildreds
Botany Bay
Margate Main Sands
Stone Bay
Westbrook Bay
West Wittering Beach West Wittering Estate plc
Alum Chine
Durley Chine
Bournemouth Manor Steps
Durley Chine
Fisherman's Walk
Branksome Chine
Canford Cliffs
Shore Road
Sandbanks
Avon Beach
Friars Cliff Beach
Highcliffe Beach
Southbourne
Swanage Central
Weymouth Central