May 23, 20173 min read

#GETYOURFEETWET In the North-West’s cleanest bathing waters in over 30 years!

In the North-West’s cleanest bathing waters in over 30 years!

The phrase, To Get Your Feet Wet, means ‘to experience something for the first time’ or ‘begin to participate in an activity.’

For many visitors to the North-West, and for some residents, this would be the best suited phrase for beach and sea usage; as more than half of adults have not had a single day at the seaside in the last year [1].

However, in 2017, there should be nothing holding visitors and residents back. Beach and water quality in the region has improved tremendously over the last thirty years and in 2016 all thirty-one bathing water locations in the North-West were compliant with EU regulations. In addition, in 2016, the region had ten beaches flying flags that tell the public they are among the best beaches in the country. Blackpool South beach flew the prestigious Blue Flag Award - the international standard for the best beaches in the world.

The 2017 Beach Awards are announced on the 23 rd May and the region is forecast to have another wave of success after the Keep Britain Tidy team received a record number of applications.

That’s why, throughout May, the LOVEmyBEACH campaign is calling for residents and visitors to try something new and visit one of the beautiful beaches along the North-West coast. There are a selection of ‘excellent’ rated beaches and bathing waters including Blackpool South, Formby & St Bees. The LOVEmyBEACH website includes the classifications of all the bathing water beaches in the North-West plus a comprehensive listing detailing information such as facilities and time tides.

The UK beach season is now officially open, running from the 15th

May until the 30th September every year; the period when the Environment Agency monitors the water quality every week. A trip to the seaside is a value for money day out that can span the generations, perfect for the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Here are our top five beach ideas if you need inspiration getting your feet wet:

1.FLY A KITE at St Anne’s

2. BUILD SANDCASTLES at Blackpool

3. TAKE PHOTOS on the dunes at Ainsdale

4. WALK THE DOG at one of twenty five beaches in the region with minimal dog restrictions

5. WINDSURF at West Kirby

Whatever the activity, we encourage everyone to share their photos and ‘foosies’ (the selfie for your feet!) using the hashtag #getyourfeetwet.

Neil Jack, Chair of Turning Tides, said: “Our bathing waters are so much cleaner today than they were twenty, ten or even only five years ago.

“That improvement is down to significant investment and partnership work from the Turning Tides partners such as United Utilities, and having a clear vision that clean bathing waters contribute to creating family friendly seaside resorts and boosting the North West economy as a whole.

“Our beaches are being cleaned regularly by hundreds of staff and volunteers throughout the summer and are being sampled regularly by the Environment Agency to check they are safe to swim in.

“We have some of the best, award-winning, coastlines in Europe but if we are to continue to keep them that way then we need the public’s help. Simple actions like putting your litter in the bin, picking up after your dog and not feeding the birds can help make sure that our beaches continue to stay fantastic.

” Stephanie Wyatt, LOVEmyBEACH Manager adds, “When you visit the beach please make sure you follow these simple steps to help the LOVEmyBEACH campaign and improve our beaches for generations to come:

1. Always put rubbish in a bin - if you can’t find one or it’s full, take it home.

2. Don’t feed the birds- this attracts extra birds who poo in the sea where people swim &

paddle.

3. Understand dog restrictions on beaches – dog restrictions are in place in seven beaches

across the North West however there are miles of coast where dogs can be walked.

Whichever beach you’re on though, always, pick up your dog poo; the tide doesn’t wash

away the problem”