Fistral Dunes are PRISTINE, for now!

This morning we were true to our word and were down at Fistral Beach for our dune sweep to clear the rubbish up that had been left behind over the last couple of weeks. No need to keep banging on about how disgraceful it is, but really, who goes to the dunes for a ‘soulful’ and ‘romantic’ bbq and then leaves the smouldering tray, beer cans, plastic bags and plates there? The short-sightedness of some people is staggering.

Our crew of eight, fortified with littler picker grabbers as supplied by Michelle’s dad, picked up thirteen bags of rubbish from what is really quite a small area. It was roasting down there under the sun and out of the breeze, still quite a few visitors about and it was good to see that they noticed us in the dunes picking up the trash. I’m not saying that it would be those visitors, or even visitors that did the trashing, but just that I think it was good for them to see some people taking an active interest in looking after the dunes, maybe it will inspire them to do the same, and so on.

This area was one of the worst affected

And now it's pristine once more

Imagine ripping those bags up and emptying them over the beach!

Some of the stuff we picked up was quite hideous, I think every type of product that comes from the human body, plus a few more, could be found back there, you don’t need me to list the particulars. I would say that the dunes are now clean for the time being for everyone to enjoy, but the truth is that people shouldn’t be going up there. The dunes are a fragile ecosystem and they have been badly eroded where people have been clambering over them.

There’s wire all around to give the hint that people should stay out, but that doesn’t put off those that feel it’s their entitlement. Fair enough, the odd person going in the dunes doesn’t hurt, you can see that the dunes around Gwithian are doing fine, but Newquay and Fistral are busy places and the dunes just can’t handle the numbers of people that go in them, you can’t go in there yourself and expect everyone else not to follow. Gotta lead by example and stay out!

Anyway, for now at least the maram grass and other plants are free from those choking plastic bags.
Many thanks to the crew that turned up today, Jackie Smart of course (her idea in the first place!), Michelle and her grabbing sticks, Ben and Gemma from Surfing is Therapy, local lass Roxy, and Steve and Kate Roberts, it was a very fulfilling way to spend a sunny morning!