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Brits count down the days until they can get back to the coast

Long time no sea: Beach loving Brits count down the days until they're reunited with the coasts according to new survey results from Surfers Against Sewage.

May 2020

Our 2020 Generation Sea Blueprint Survey, completed by over 3,300 people, has revealed that out of all of the natural spaces, the vast majority of us are most looking forward to a trip to the beach as lockdown eases. And more than half say the Ocean is the most missed environment. As restrictions lift, it is therefore unsurprising that almost 90% of you said you will be beach-bound within one month.


Despite many eagerly awaiting their first splash in the Ocean, we have revealed that 7 in 10 agree that new measures need to be introduced to keep the population safe when at the beach and in the Ocean after lockdown. Many of us also want to see more protection measures in place to preserve the coast as we begin to recover from the pandemic, with nearly 80% asking the government and businesses to take more action to protect the Ocean.

Over 90% of respondents agree that the pandemic provides an opportunity to rebuild an economy around tackling the Ocean and climate, and the lockdown has given beach lovers a chance to consider any personal changes they might make as restrictions start to lift. A whopping 90% stated that their daily behaviour and attitude will be modified in some way, with one third of us having already started planning how we will make these changes.

It seems that distance has definitely made the heart grow fonder, as almost 80% now believe their appreciation for the natural world has increased. Understandably, the majority of the behavioural changes are therefore geared towards protecting the environment, with 63% of respondents planning to decrease their personal consumption of plastic packaging and just over a third aiming to reduce their air travel post-COVID19.

Hugo Tagholm, CEO of Surfers Against Sewage says: “The Ocean and our beautiful beaches clearly make the nation’s heart beat faster. People want to roam and restore Britain’s beaches, and their love for our coastal spaces seems to have increased during lockdown. People protect what they love, and the survey shows 90% of people want to see more action to protect the ocean as the nation recovers from the current crisis.

The emerging signs of nature’s recovery during the Covid-19 crisis might have also captured people’s imagination - half of those polled feel optimistic about the future of the ocean – up 14% from 2018

Overall, our survey has highlighted just how important the Ocean and our beaches are for the mental and physical well-being of the British Public. To help champion the safe and sustainable return to our beaches we have created The Socially Responsible Beach Guide. It is now more important than ever that we come together as #GenerationSea to ensure a thriving ocean and thriving people.

Amy Slack - Head of Policy and Campaigns at Surfers Against Sewage

Twitter: @sascampaigns