Beach cleans aren’t just good for the sea – they can boost your mental health and encourage better behaviour

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Beach Cleans Aren’t Just Good for the Sea – They Can Boost Your Mental Health and Encourage Better Behaviour

Discovering the Beauty and the Rubbish

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I love exploring the shoreline. I wander along my local Devon beach at least once a week, and my curiosity is naturally pulled to the high water line. I enjoy discovering pretty shells but also the rubbish that the sea has washed in. The colours, shapes, and sizes of this human-made waste stand out from the sand and seaweed.

A Stark Reminder of the Problem

Finding an old 1990s sweet wrapper is not only nostalgic, it’s also a stark reminder that this rubbish doesn’t go away and is an ongoing and growing problem that needs to be addressed. So once I have investigated what it is that’s caught my eye, I add it to my small bag of rubbish to take back to the bin. It feels good, and it’s fun.

The Benefits of Beach Cleans

Removing that litter is not only good for the ocean, but also for me and everyone else who cleans up a beach. My research shows that participating in beach cleans is good for our mental health and encourages people to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviours.

Unpicking the Benefits

To unpick the benefits of helping in a beach clean, I ran a study with a team of social and natural scientists. We asked 90 participants to complete one of three activities: a coastal walk, a beach clean, or rockpooling at low tide. The beach clean and rockpooling activities had a citizen science component, where participants recorded scientific data. Rubbish items were collected and logged onto the Marine Conservation Society’s database of marine litter. Wildlife spotted in rockpools was recorded as part of the Marine Biological Association’s Shore Thing programme to monitor the nationwide impact of rising sea temperature on coastal species.

The Power of Blue Health

Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.

A Triple Win

Many studies have shown that spending time in nature, especially by the coast, makes us feel good. It improves our mood, calm anxiety, improves our breathing and our physical health, increases our concentration, and helps us recharge. But the cleanliness of that marine environment is important.

The Impact of Litter

My research highlights how the benefits to our health and wellbeing are reduced on a littered or polluted beach. As a mixed team of social and natural scientists, we wanted to explore what the impacts are on people’s psychological experiences of the beach. Does it harm their mood or detract from the benefits that the coast normally provides? By getting 99 people to rate a number of photos of coastlines that were either clean or littered, we found that this was indeed the case: people disliked beaches that had rubbish.

Conclusion

Beach cleans are a triple win. Volunteering at events run by groups such as the Marine Conservation Society and Keep Britain Tidy helps clean up our seas, protects marine wildlife, and benefits us. This positively impacts other people who visit and enjoy the coast, plus the act of cleaning the coast has immediate health and wellbeing benefits on volunteers themselves.

FAQs

Q: What are the benefits of participating in beach cleans?
A: Beach cleans are good for our mental health and encourage people to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviours.

Q: How can I get involved in beach cleans?
A: You can join an event near you, either on your local beach or inland at parks or by rivers that all eventually lead to the ocean.

Q: What can I do to help reduce marine litter?
A: Take a look around – if you see some rubbish on the ground, take it to the nearest bin. Alternatively, join an event near you or participate in citizen science initiatives to help collect and record data on marine litter.

Q: How can I make a difference?
A: Every small action counts, from picking up litter to participating in beach cleans. By working together, we can make a significant impact on reducing marine litter and protecting our oceans.