top of page

Fact

Four out of five of the UK’s worst polluted beaches by sewage spills are in Devon, the worst being Stoke Fleming, which has been exposed to 63 spills with a total of 1,014 hours of leakage.

Did you know?

By 2030, more than 90% of reefs will be threatened with extinction and almost 60% will be critically endangered. [1]

The current concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is the highest the Earth has seen for 800,000 years. [2]

Ocean acidification is threatening many marine species by increasing CO2 concentrations and lowering pH levels. [2]

How does using blue spaces impact coastal systems and vulnerable marine environments?

Increased use of blue spaces may lead to more CO2 being released through transport emissions and during the production of watersports equipment.

​

Higher atmospheric CO2 levels leads to ocean acidification, oxygen deprivation for marine species and a warmer climate, presenting a triple threat to coastal ecosystems.

Air pollution and chemical toxins are created from the production of beach equipment.

​

Single use consumption of beach equipment leads to pollution of blue spaces.

Destruction of vulnerable habitats (e.g. seagrass) and disruption of local wildlife from watersport activities and dogs.

​

Spreading awareness of such issues can prevent further damage

​

​

​

​

Beach
Beach

Social prescribing

Social prescribing is a key component of Universal Personalised Care. It is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. - NHS, England [3]

Social prescribing is especially beneficial for

  • Have one or more long term conditions

  • Who need support with low level mental health issues

  • Who are lonely or isolated

  • Who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Inequality, minorities and disadvantaged backgrounds

Inequality plays a role in the lack of accessibility to the beach as many households may not have any means of transport to the beach. This may include lack of a car or having no public transport nearby. 

​

Therefore, people who may not be able to travel to beaches themselves can use our carpool service and join people who are already planning to go to the beach. This not only promotes a sense of community within minority groups, but it also allows families that don't usually have access to the beach to go there.

​

Additionally, another service we provide is the renting of surfboards, wetsuits etc. This equipment could be old equipment that users don't use anymore. This lets people who want to try a water sport without committing to buying equipment, try out the sport without the price that comes attached with it.

​​
 

Carpool

Research by Liftshare suggests that each 1% increase in vehicle occupancy saves 2.5 billion car miles and 0.75MtCO2. Based on 2011 census data, Liftshare also suggest that increasing vehicle occupancy by 1% annually between 2022 and 2030 would remove 1.25 million cars from the road and result in an annual reduction in CO2 of 1.25Mt [4]

References

 [1] Phillips, M. R., & House, C. (2009). An evaluation of priorities for beach tourism: Case studies from South Wales, UK. Tourism Management, 30(2), 176-183.

[2] Noisette, F. (2013). Impacts de l'acidification des océans sur les organismes benthiques calcifiants des milieux côtiers tempérés (Doctoral dissertation, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris VI).

[3] N. England, “NHS England» Social prescribing,” England.nhs.uk, 2020. https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/ 

[4] Department for Transport (2022). Lift sharing: local authority toolkit. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lift-sharing-local-authority-toolkit/lift-sharing-local-authority-toolkit

‌


‌

bottom of page