7 DAYS, 7 BEACHES, 7 BEACH CLEANS! #7beaches

Posts of Durdle Door have flooded people's social media A LOT in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, these are not the usual attractive posts about this iconic beauty spot, but photos of mountains of discarded rubbish, videos of tombstoning idiots, and angry words of despair and hopelessness. Most recently dubbed 'Durdle Dump' and 'World Heritage Shite', it is so upsetting to witness such breathtaking landmarks, disrespected, exploited and abused. But this is ONE landmark across the Jurassic Coast that is suffering. There are countless beautiful beaches and sites that have been mistreated for decades by selfish, greedy people who simply cannot put their rubbish in a bin.

After a post went 'viral' on Facebook, I discovered and joined Clean Jurassic Coast to complete a beach clean at Durdle Door in early June. I did not mentally prepare myself for the hell and devastation that the beach is having to endure every single day. There was rubbish everywhere. It was soul destroying. A small group of volunteers picked up tampons, sanitary towels, human excrement, wee in bottles, tents, chairs, probably a million fag butts, bottle tops, broken glass, KFC bags full of chicken bones, pants, socks, sandals, the list goes on. I posted a video on Facebook of the mound of bin bags collected by the volunteers and this also garnered a lot of attention, even from the Lulworth Estate.

I cleaned this beach once. ONCE. And I was emotionally and physically destroyed. There are lots of incredible organisations, charities and volunteer networks who pick up other people's litter EVERY DAY! I am so in awe of them. So humbled by their strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. They need us. They need us to share their story and to help them in this never-ending fight. Which leads me on to what this fundraiser is all about...

Clean Jurassic Coast is a volunteer network who unite all Jurassic Coast beach cleaners and litter pickers in one place. With the motto 'strength in numbers', their mission is to keep the 95 miles of the Jurassic Coast litter free. Working with the Jurassic Coast Trust, Dorset Council's Litter Free Coast and Sea, and many other groups, organisations and individuals, this initiative demonstrates teamwork at its absolute finest. For more information, please visit www.cleanjurassiccoast.uk. Picture Credit: Oly Rush.

THEY NEED OUR HELP. They are in desperate need of safety equipment, even more so whilst we are still facing the power of Covid-19. They need sanitation gel, litter pickers, bags, gloves, masks, first aid kits. They also really need financial backing to help them work towards solving the bigger issue, LACK OF EDUCATION. They need to run websites, organise volunteer initiatives, post sponsored marketing campaigns, create their own merchandise to spread awareness, organise and run educational visits and events. I know they would be so, so appreciative of any help you are able to offer. Surely it's the least we can do for them after all the years of quite literally blood, sweat and tears to keep our beaches clean.

To raise funds and awareness, my husband, Dave Phillips, and I will be completing 7 beach cleans of 7 different beaches across the Jurassic Coast. Please look out for the hashtag #7beaches to see our progress. This will be completed on the week of the 20th July (date subject to change).

Please help spread the word. Share this fundraiser, tell your friends and donate if you can. If you can't, perhaps contact Clean Jurassic Coast and offer your time at a beach clean. Everything helps. As Roy Beal (founder of Clean Jurassic Coast) would say,

Thank you for your help and kindness.