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Fylde

Here at Fylde LOVEmyBEACH we aim to inspire and empower communities to take care of their local beach environment. People can show they love their beach by heading out on a beach clean or adopting beach-friendly practices in the home. If everyone makes small changes we can all have a big impact on the local coastal environment and in particular bathing water quality.

We work from Lytham to Knott End, covering the iconic beaches at Blackpool through to the picturesque coastlines of Fylde and Wyre boroughs.

Fylde LOVEmyBEACH works with eight regular beach volunteer groups across the coast who do an amazing job of litter picking and surveying their favourite Fylde coast beach.

We know local businesses are an important part of every community and they can play a key role in helping improve our beaches and seas. Business on the Fylde coast can get involved by supporting beach cleans, holding LOVEmyBEACH days and running their operations in a Beach friendly way such as encouraging staff to ‘think before they flush.’

Fylde LOVEmyBEACH is managed by BeachCare – a partnership delivered by Keep Britain Tidy, one of our Turning Tides members.

Want to get involved? Contact us using the details on the right. From individuals to big businesses there’s something everyone can do to help.

Fylde Coast Volunteer Groups:

Friends of the Estuary

When: Weekly, every Monday at 10:15am
Meeting Point: Lytham Lifeboat station Car Park, Lytham
Info: www.friends-of-the-estuary.co.uk

Fairhaven Coastal Care Group

When: Weekly, every Wednesday at 10am
Meeting point: St Pauls Car Park at Fairhaven Lake, Lytham St Annes

St Annes BeachCare Group

When: Weekly, every Tuesday at 10am
Meeting point: St Annes Pier, St Annes-on-the-sea

SEA LIFE Blackpool LOVEmyBEACH cleans

When: Monthly, mostly on Sundays, check the ‘Events’ page for dates
Meeting point: Next to the RNLI building on central promenade, opposite SEA LIFE Blackpool.

Cleveleys Beach Care Group

When: Every other week on a Sunday, check the ‘Events’ page for dates
Meeting point: At the Sea Swallows statue on the promenade at the end of Victoria Road West, Cleveleys

Rossall Beach Residents and Community Group

When: Monthly, check the ‘Events’ page for dates
Where: Rossall Beach car park, Cleveleys

Rossall Point BeachCare Group

When: Weekly, every Thursday at 10am
Where: Rossall Point Observation Tower, Fleetwood

Knott End Beach Care Group

When: Monthly on a Tuesday morning at 10am, check ‘Events’ page for dates
Meeting point: Knott End ferry car park

Water quality

The Environment Agency monitors bathing waters – stretches of sea or lake where many people swim and paddle – to assess whether they meet the strict standards of the European Bathing Water Directive. The standards are set to protect public health and the environment from pollution.

The Environment Agency takes 20 water samples at each bathing water between May and September each year and post the information online: http://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/

The samples are tested for certain types of bacteria: escherichia coli (E.coli) and intestinal enterococci, which are not directly harmful but indicate the presence of pollution. The bacteria are found in the intestines of animals and humans and pass through the body in poo. High levels of bacteria = poor water quality.

However, the water may be cleaner on the actual day you visit the beach, as the quality can change, particularly after heavy rain washes pollution into rivers and the sea. Look out for daily forecasts at some beaches.

Each beach is also given an annual classification. From 2015 this is based on sample results over the previous four years, e.g. 2015 results use data from 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. 2016 results use data from 2013 to 2016 and so on. The classifications are:

Excellent

The standard is the highest, cleanest class

Good

Generally good water quality

Sufficient

The water meets the minimum standards

Poor

Bathing is not advised at this beach as water quality has not met sufficient standards

If a bathing water is classed as Poor, you are advised not to bathe because samples taken over the previous four years have been affected by pollution. This does not mean the beach is closed – you can still enjoy everything the beach has to offer.

If a water sample has high levels of bacteria, analysis is done to estimate* the sources of pollution and work is planned in the area to improve water quality. When this work is significant and is expected to help improve bathing water quality, the four years of data for the annual classification starts from the time the work is completed and sample data from before the work are not included. This is called step change.

*Estimates are based on computer modelling, DNA analysis, and knowledge of the local area. The estimates can never be perfect because pollution to bathing waters changes from day to day depending on the season, the tides and the weather.