England now has more Blue Flag beaches than Cyprus
Forget the green list for a great seaside getaway: From Scarborough to Brighton, England now has more Blue Flag beaches than Cyprus (and Wales has plenty, too)
- Beaches in England that have retained Blue Flag status since 2019 include Skegness and Margate Main Sands
- Hornsea, Leysdown and Crooklets are among the English beaches that are new Blue Flag holders for 2021
- A total of 45 beaches and marinas are deemed Blue Flag worthy in Wales for 2021 – one more than in 2019
English and Welsh holidaymakers don’t need a ‘green list’ to experience some of the best beaches in the world – because there are plenty on their doorstep.
That’s the message from charities Keep Britain Tidy and Keep Wales Tidy, which administer the Blue Flag schemes in their respective countries and today announced their lists for 2021.
It has been revealed that England now boasts more Blue Flag beaches than Mexico, Cyprus or South Africa. This year, a total of 77 of its beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status – up from 71 in 2019 – with those at Brighton, Skegness and Carbis Bay all retaining the coveted accolade.
England now boasts more Blue Flag beaches than Mexico, Cyprus or South Africa. One of them is Scarborough North Bay, pictured
Brighton Central Beach, pictured, has retained its Blue Flag status from 2019
Carbis Bay Beach in Cornwall, pictured, has been deemed Blue Flag worthy for another year. Next month Carbis Bay will host the G7 summit
ENGLAND’S BLUE FLAG WINNERS FOR 2021
BEACHES
EAST MIDLANDS – FOUR WINNERS
Central Beach, Mablethorpe
Central Beach, Skegness
Central Beach, Sutton on Sea
Cleethorpes Central
EAST OF ENGLAND – 15 WINNERS
Felixstowe South and Pier
Cromer North
Sea Palling
Sheringham
Mundesley
East Runton
West Runton
East Beach Shoeburyness
Shoebury Common
Thorpe Bay
Three Shells Beach
Westcliff Bay
Dovercourt Bay
Brightlingsea
Walton on the Naze Albion Beach
NORTH EAST – SIX WINNERS
Tynemouth Longsands
King Edward’s Bay
Whitley Bay
Roker
Seaburn
Saltburn by the Sea
YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER – THREE WINNERS
Hornsea
Scarborough North Bay
Whitby
SOUTH EAST – 15 WINNERS
Brighton Central
Hove Lawns
Tankerton
Marina St Leonards
Hayling Island Beachlands
Sandown
Sheerness Beach
Leysdown Beach
Minster Leas
Minnis Bay
West Bay
St Mildreds
Margate Main Sands
Stone Bay
West Wittering Beach
SOUTH WEST – 34 WINNERS
Blackpool Sands
Poole, Sandbanks Peninsular
Poole, Shore Road
Poole, Canford Cliffs
Poole, Branksome Chine
Alum Chine
Bournemouth Manor Steps
Durley Chine
Fisherman’s Walk
Southbourne
Carbis Bay
Crooklets
Gyllyngvase
Porthmeor
Great Western
Polzeath
Porthtowan
Trevone Bay
Widemouth Bay
Sandy Bay
Exmouth
Sidmouth Town
Challaborough Bay
Swanage Central
Dawlish Warren
Teignmouth Town
Breakwater Beach
Broadsands
Meadfoot Beach
Oddicombe Beach
Preston Sands
Torre Abbey Sands
Westward Ho!
Weymouth Central
MARINAS
Albert Dock and Salthouse Dock Marina
Source: Keep Britain Tidy
In Wales, 45 beaches and marinas, such as those at Caswell Bay, Whitesands Bay and Prestatyn, have been deemed Blue Flag worthy, one more than in 2019.
The Blue Flag is a guarantee to visitors that the beach has excellent facilities, is litter free and has achieved a high standard of water quality.
They are only given to beaches whose local authority has promised to run a minimum of five educational activities for the local community and visitors to make people aware of the importance of looking after the natural environment.
Other beaches in England retaining Blue Flags for 2021 are Central Beach in Mablethorpe, East Runton in Norfolk, Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside and Whitby in North Yorkshire.
There are four Blue Flag beaches in the East Midlands region for 2021. Pictured is one of them, Central Beach Skegness
East Runton Beach in Norfolk, pictured, has retained its Blue Flag status for 2021
In the North East region, there are six Blue Flag beaches for 2021. One of them is Roker Beach in Sunderland, pictured
The Blue Flag is a guarantee to visitors that the beach has excellent facilities, is litter free and has achieved a high standard of water quality. Polzeath Beach in Cornwall, pictured, is a Blue Flag holder in 2021
Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: ‘This year, more than ever, we are going to be relying on our country’s beautiful beaches to escape for a much-needed break after all the stresses and strains of the past year.’ Pictured is Cornwall’s Blue-Flag-flying Porthtowan Beach
ENGLAND’S SEASIDE AWARD WINNERS FOR 2021
EAST MIDLANDS – THREE WINNERS
Cleethorpes Central
Cleethorpes Humberston Fitties
Cleethorpes Marine Embankment
EAST OF ENGLAND – 20 WINNERS
Hunstanton Main
Chalkwell Beach
Jubilee Beach
Thorpe Bay Beach
Three Shells Beach
Shoebury Common Beach
East Beach, Shoeburyness
Bell Wharf Beach
Westcliff Bay
Brightlingsea
Dovercourt Bay
Clacton on Sea (Martello Tower)
Frinton on Sea
Walton Albion
Walton The Naze
Harwich
Felixstowe South and Pier
Kessingland
Lowestoft South of Claremont
Southwold
NORTH EAST – NINE WINNERS
Tynemouth Longsands
King Edward’s Bay
Whitley Bay
Sandhaven Beach
Seaton Carew Central
Saltburn
Redcar Lifeboat Road
Roker
Seaburn
YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER – 12 WINNERS
Bridlington North
Bridlington South
Wilsthorpe
South Landing
Withernsea
Filey
Runswick Bay
Cayton Bay
Sandsend
Robin Hoods Bay
Scarborough North Bay
Whitby
NORTH WEST – 11 WINNERS
Morecambe North
Morecambe South
St Annes Pier
Ferry Beach, Fleetwood
Marine Beach, Fleetwood
Jubilee Beach, Cleveleys
Rossall Beach
Bispham
Blackpool North
Blackpool Central
Blackpool South
SOUTH EAST – 24 WINNERS
Worthing Beach
Bognor Regis
Littlehampton Coastguards
Saltdean
Reculver
Herne Bay
Tankerton
Marina, St Leonards on Sea
Pelham Beach
Sandgate Beach
Leysdown Beach
Minster Leas
Sheerness Beach
Botany Bay
Joss Bay
Ramsgate Main Sands
West Bay
Westbrook Bay
Viking Bay, Broadstairs
Shanklin
Sandown
Seagrove
Springvale
West Wittering
SOUTH WEST – 53 WINNERS
Bournemouth Pier
Boscombe Pier
Alum Chine
Bournemouth Manor Steps
Durley Chine
Southbourne
Fishermans Walk
Branksome Chine
Canford Cliffs
Shore Road
Sandbanks
Avon Beach
Friars Cliff Beach
Highcliffe Beach
Sandy Bay
Carbis Bay
Crackington Haven
Gyllyngvase
Great Western
Perranporth
Polzeath
Porth
Porthtowan
Porthmeor
Porthminster
Portreath
Sennan Cove
Trevone Bay
Widemouth Bay
Crooklets
Summerleaze
Exmouth East
Seaton (Devon)
Sidmouth Town
Budleigh Salterton
Challaborough Bay
Croyde Bay
Coryton Cove
Dawlish Town
Ness Cove
Swanage Central
Breakwater Beach
Broadsands Beach
Meadfoot Beach
Oddicombe Beach
Maidencombe Beach
Goodrington Beach
Paignton Beach
Preston Sands
Torre Abbey Sands
Ansteys Cove
Westward Ho!
Weymouth Central
Source: Keep Britain Tidy
In the South East region, Margate Main Sands and Tankerton, both in Kent, and West Wittering in West Sussex, retain Blue Flags.
As do Sandbanks Peninsular, Portowan in Cornwall, and Exmouth and Westward Ho! beaches in Devon in the South West.
Beaches to gain Blue Flags this year after missing out in 2019 (there was no list in 2020 due to the pandemic) include Hornsea and Scarborough North Bay in Yorkshire, Leysdown in Kent and Crooklets Beach in Cornwall.
Among the sandy stretches that flew Blue Flags in 2019 but no longer have them for 2021 are Botany Bay and Westbrook Bay, both in Kent.
Meanwhile, for the first time, England now has a Blue Flag marina – the Royal Albert Dock and Salthouse Dock Marina in Liverpool.
Hornsea Beach in Yorkshire is one of several beaches to gain a Blue Flag this year after missing out in 2019 (there was no list in 2020 due to the pandemic)
Leysdown Beach in Kent – a beach that has earned Blue Flag status in 2021 after missing out in 2019
In addition to the Blue Flags, 132 beaches across England have been given Seaside Awards, which recognise the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, indicate that they meet the required standards for water quality.
In Wales, other beaches flying Blue Flags for 2021 include Porth Dafarch in Anglesey, Trecco Bay in Bridgend, Llangrannog in Ceredigion and Newgale in Pembrokeshire.
Three marinas are also deemed Blue Flag worthy – they are Porthcawl, Swansea and Penarth.
Meanwhile, a further 13 beaches have been given a Green Coast Award, which recognises the ‘hidden gems’ along the Welsh coastline.
These include Penbryn in Ceredigion, Bracelet Bay in Swansea and Manorbier and Druidston in Pembrokeshire.
A total of 25 Welsh beaches have received Seaside Awards.
The stunning Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire – one of 45 beaches in Wales to be awarded Blue Flag status for 2021
Caswell Bay Beach, pictured, is one of four Blue Flag beaches in 2021 in the Swansea area
Porth Dafarch Beach in Anglesey, pictured – a Blue-Flag-winning beach in Wales
WALES COASTAL AWARDS FOR 2021
BLUE FLAGS
ANGLESEY – SIX WINNERS
Benllech
Church Bay / Porth Swtan
Llanddwyn
Llanddonna (conditional)
Trearddur Bay
Porth Dafarch
BRIDGEND – THREE WINNERS
Rest Bay
Trecco Bay
Porthcawl Marina
CARMARTHENSHIRE – ONE WINNER
Cefn Sidan
CEREDIGION – SIX WINNERS
Aberystwyth North
Aberystwyth South
Borth
Llangrannog
New Quay Harbour
Tresaith
CONWY – FOUR WINNERS
Llandudno West Shore
Llanfairfechan
Rhos, Colwyn Bay
Porth Eirias
DENBIGHSHIRE – ONE WINNER
Prestatyn
GWYNEDD – SIX WINNERS
Barmouth (Abermaw)
Abersoch
Dinas Dinlle
Morfa Bychan (Black Rock Sands)
Pwllheli
Aberdaron
PEMBROKESHIRE – 12 WINNERS
Amroth
Newgale
Saundersfoot
Dale
Whitesands
Coppet Hall
Tenby North
Tenby South
Tenby Castle
Poppit Sands
Lydstep
Broadhaven Norther
SWANSEA – FOUR WINNERS
Caswell Bay
Langland Bay
Port Eynon
Swansea Marina
VALE OF GLAMORGAN – TWO WINNERS
Penarth Marina
Southerndown
SEASIDE AWARDS
ANGLESEY – ONE WINNER
Traeth Crigyll, Rhosneigr
CEREDIGION – 13 WINNERS
Cilborth
Llanrhystud
Mwnt
Aberporth
Aberystwyth South
Aberystwyth North
Clarach
Penbryn
Traeth y Dolau
Borth
Llangrannog
New Quay Harbour
Tresaith
CONWY – FOUR WINNERS
Kinmel Bay
Llandudno N Shore
Abergele Pensarn
Penmaenmawr
DENBIGHSHIRE – ONE WINNER
Rhyl Central
GWYNEDD – TWO WINNERS
Cricceith Traeth y Promenade
Tywyn
NEATH PORT TALBOT – ONE WINNER
Aberavon
VALE OF GLAMORGAN – THREE WINNERS
Cold Knap
Jacksons Bay
Whitmore Bay
GREEN COAST AWARD
ANGLESEY – ONE WINNER
Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn
CEREDIGION – FOUR WINNERS
Cilborth
Llanrhystud
Mwnt
Penbryn
SWANSEA – ONE WINNER
Bracelet Bay
PEMBROKESHIRE – SEVEN WINNERS
Abereiddy
Freshwater East
Manorbier
Penally
Caerfai
Druidston
West Angle Bay
Source: Keep Wales Tidy
Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: ‘This year, more than ever, we are going to be relying on our country’s beautiful beaches to escape for a much-needed break after all the stresses and strains of the past year.
‘Whether it’s camping in Cornwall, renting a cottage in North Yorkshire or simply having a day out at the seaside in Sussex, a fantastic beach is an essential part of a holiday for so many of us.
‘Last year, due to the pandemic, we did not have the opportunity to celebrate all the great award-winning beaches around the coast, so this year we are delighted to have even more winners than we did in 2019, thanks to the incredible work of the teams around the country that make our beaches clean and safe for us all to enjoy.
‘From environmental education for the local community and ensuring responsible beach use, to cleaning regimes and an increasing number of recycling facilities, it is a full-time commitment to create beaches worthy of these awards.
‘As we all plan our 2021 holidays much closer to home, thanks to the Blue Flag and Seaside Award, those choosing to holiday at a destination with an award-winning beach can be assured it will be clean and safe and meet the highest standards for water quality and management.’
Commenting on the first Blue Flag Marina in England, Allison added: ‘I would like to congratulate Canal and River Trust for securing the country’s first Blue Flag for its marina in Liverpool, which offers the highest standards of environmental information and management, safety and services, as well as water quality.’
Source: Read Full Article
