Lessons For Lulworth

Lessons from Lulworth

When Brits Abroad Can’t Go Abroad… lessons learnt from our staycation Summers on the Jurassic Coast.›

Words by Derek Billings, Countryside Ranger for the Lulworth Estate

It may come as no surprise that the path between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door is one of the most, if not the most heavily walked mile along the whole 630 of the SWCP. Two stunning locations, ample parking and facilities, and easy day-tripping access make for a convenient recipe when trying to escape a built-up urban environment.

Approach the viewpoint, and you will undoubtedly find a large portion of the visitors at any given time not actually looking at the arch but facing away! Mobile phone in hand, elevated slightly, click! But is all the social media hype helping the site? A Tiktok sensation, over-Instagrammed and Snapchatted to infinity, the iconic arch seemed to be everywhere in 2020, often and sadly for the wrong reasons. Even outside of social media circles, images of beachgoers being squeezed together by multiple medical emergency helicopters made for dramatic national news, as unlocked-down tourists irresponsibly hurled themselves off the arch. Mass littering, antisocial behaviour, fly-camping, desecration of the UNESCO protected World Heritage cliffs, you name it – it was all fair game apparently. This behaviour, this blatant selfish attitude, made work for the staff of Lulworth challenging at times and soul-destroying at others.

As someone who does a lot of litter picking at the various stretches of beach along privately owned Lulworth Estate, there is always a considerable number of people who would comment in shock; "Why on earth would people do that?" when referencing the full sack of litter by my side. And the honest answer is that I genuinely don't know. I've stopped asking myself the question for my own sanity and have had to accept that this is common culture now. Disregard, throw away, consume for convenience, devalue possessions. The majority of this litter consists of everyday detritus; cans, bottles, forgotten toys, cigarette butts etc. But it was not uncommon to find an unwanted tent with its contents still inside, a toddler's perfectly good pushchair, or cool boxes full of (still sealed) food and drink, with the past owners too lazy to take it back up the 143 steps and 500m walk back to the carpark.

However, a negative attitude does not go very far when working in this sector when thinking about these issues. In fact, it should be mentioned that although we suffered heavily in 2020, the majority of our visitors were well behaved, acted in a responsible manner and at times, willingly helped us out with lugging bags and bags of litter from the beach. It was the inappropriate (and dare I say it; unprecedented) >

actions of the minority that had a significant impact on the environment and the other beachgoers experience.

Thus, as a concerted effort for curtailing this behaviour and attitude, we knew a robust plan of action would be needed to ensure the unique flora and fauna of the site would continue to be protected. There would, of course, be no silver bullet to tackle the multiple layers of issues faced, but the strategy was two-fold; one of education and one of reaction. Through consultation with Litter Free Coast and Sea (now Litter Free Dorset), we heavily emphasize positive behaviour modelling and reinforcement. A recurring comment on addressing this behaviour from the general public was "fine them", or "ban them", but this strategy rarely works in reality and logistically wouldn't get off the ground. Influencing behaviour is far more likely if you can get people to buy into what you're trying to achieve. So, 'acceptable behaviour' boards were installed beside every car park machine, wardens handed out free bin bags, various positive reinforcement signs were installed around the Estate, and a targeted social media campaign sought to teach visitors of the site's limitations. Beach cleaners were employed from 5am (never a popular shift) and swapped with beach wardens who were in until 8 or 9pm. We applied for and received funding for a socio-economic grant from Magnox Ltd (a local nuclear decommissioning company) to help fund a 'welcome ambassador' role. These seasonal rangers were invaluable in teaching visitors about the environment, and in a more policing role, stopped things like disposable barbeques from getting down to the beach. They were based at an information kiosk, affectionately known as 'The Cube' and were vital in not only their primary information and education roles but assisting when major incidents unfolded on the beach.

So what was the upshot of all of this investment, recruiting, training and strategic planning? Thankfully it has seemed to have paid off. Of course, other factors come into play, such as overnight accommodation available for visitors so they didn't need to smash and grab their beach time. The heatwaves of 2020 were not as abundant in 2021, and many more things were open this summer, distributing visitors' activities away from purely natural attractions.

There were only three mornings when we required extra staff to combat litter issues compared to 2020, when it numbered well into double figures. >

We collected 4170kg of discarded waste, comprising 965 bags. And although this may still sound like a lot, I vividly remember one hot Saturday in August 2020 when over 200 bags were collected in a single day, utilising the goodwill of an army of volunteers to assist! The graffiti that continuously appeared on the rocks last year was seen by the beach wardens much sooner and thus scrubbed off, eliminating copycat behaviour. Fly camping and illegal camping decreased significantly as the presence on the beach thwarted most potential contenders.

Our overarching campaign message was to respect England's only natural World Heritage Site, protect the delicate environment, and collect all belongings and litter as you leave the beach. By no means were the problems completely resolved. By no means do we think that we can let our guard down now. But every contributing tactic that we employed, if only reducing the issues by a small percentage individually, made for a much easier working environment. The delicate natural habitats were subsequently less affected, and we are now confident that with even more effort in 2022, we will be well on top of keeping this extraordinary place, well… special. lulworth.com #RespectProtectCollect Note: Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, the public has a legal right to access the beaches and coastal margin. As a public right of way, the Access Authority have the responsibility to manage these areas, but in their absence, the Lulworth Estate endeavours to limit the environmental damage caused by a minority of those making use of this right.

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Much loved for its golden beaches, luxury water-front hotels friendly pubs and chic restaurants, Salcombe is a favourite spot for many visitors and coast path users, staying in South Devon.

Its yachting culture, water sports, quaint independent boutique shops, and its achingly beautiful, wood-lined tidal estuary are a magnet for families, couples and day visitors alike.

Surrounded by picturesque villages, historic ruins and magnificent coastal scenery, visitors to the area can enjoy the delights of nearby Hope Cove traversing the South West Coast path, as well as the beauty of Burgh Island.

In addition to Salcombe’s five beaches – South Sands, North Sands, East Portlemouth, Mill Bay and Sunny Cove – guests can discover the delights of nearby Soar Mill Cove, Harbour Beach, Mouthwell Beach, Thurlestone Sands, Bantham, Bigbury-on-Sea, Mothecombe and Blackpool Sands. Visitors can also enjoy iconic waterborne trips on the South Sands ferry, the East Portlemouth ferry, and the Kingsbridge to Salcombe ferries, opening up the local area, its many glorious walks and hidden corners.

Highlights of the year include the annual Salcombe Crabfest in May (01 May 2022), and the August Salcombe Town Regatta (30 July-06 August 2022), providing seven days of fun on land and sea, as well as magnificent fireworks as a climax. Celebrated for its range of water sports, the sheltered setting of Salcombe’s estuary makes the perfect place for paddle boarding, rapid rib rides, dinghy sailing, estuary cruises, yachting and much more besides. You can also enjoy surfing, bodyboarding and sea kayaking nearby, making Salcombe and its surrounds a water sports lover’s paradise.

Throw in day trips to Salcombe Maritime Museum, the National Trust owned Overbeck’s house and its stunning sub-tropical gardens, and a gin crafting and tasting experience at Salcombe Distilling company on the quay, and you have all you need to keep you entertained during a trip to the area, however long your stay.

Salcombe and its surrounding villages have a host of new and enticing experiences for visitors to enjoy in 2022. From indulgent artisan chocolate and ice cream experiences to day trips out at local attractions - including Pennywell Farm, renowned for its world-famous miniature piglets and enchanting crabshed.com

northsands.co.uk salcombepaddleboarding.com

e-bike gum e-xploredevon.co.uk

family Christmas nativity events for all the family, - a visit to the Salcombe area will never leave you wanting.

Complemented by a selection of amazing outdoor adventures including e-bike escapades, guests coming to Salcombe and the South Hams can look forward to treating themselves in mind, body and spirit. For news of these and a host of other new experiences go to salcombeinformation.co.uk