DORSET’S Litter Free Coast and Sea team is preparing for clean up campaigns once lockdown restrictions allow them to take place.

The team’s working group has held two virtual meetings during the restrictions – one on using social media during the pandemic and the other to discuss what clean ups might look like once lockdown has been lifted with social distancing is still in place.

Part of the work has involved reviewing beach clean and bathing water quality data to create profiles of Dorset’s beaches. The group say this will help draw up action plans with the community on where efforts should be focused to be the most effective at reducing litter and improving bathing water quality.

The next steps of the project involve interviewing local beach managers, community groups and landowners and creating an online survey for beach and sea users to complete.

The group say that a #bringthebeachhome social media campaign it ran in conjunction with Leave Only Footprints and its counterpart group in Somerset, which included online posts with activities to help people feel connected to the sea, reached over 8,600 people.