Around 230 swimmers including Television star Steve McFadden led raced across the River Fal on Sunday (6th June) to raising over £10,000 in support of the RNLI’s South West Lifeguard Appeal. Entrants were sent on their way by former Olympic swimmer, Sharron Davies and Laurence Reed from BBC Radio Cornwall.

Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell in the BBC’s EastEnders) said after finishing the swim:

‘It was tough, definitely harder than last year. I pushed it a bit too early and it was very choppy for the whole swim. The sense of achievement when you finish is amazing and I feel great. The RNLI is the most fantastic charity in the world, there’s nothing else like it. I thank all the lifeboat crew and lifeguards for what they do.’

The Castle-to-Castle swim began at Pendennis Point, Falmouth and ended on the St Mawes side of the river. The first man home on the one mile swim was John Parker (Cleveland, Bristol) in a time of 27 minutes and the first female back was 15 year old Nicky Russell (Truro, Cornwall).

Safety cover for the event was provided by the RNLI lifeguard team and the volunteer crews of the Falmouth all weather and inshore lifeboats.

Source: RNLI website – news releases

Nearly every beach in England and Wales has met Europe’s highest cleanliness standards this year according to Environment Agency tests.

The tests reveal the quality of water in 97% of bathing sites is of a sufficient standard to be classified as “excellent”.

But the agency says the results were based on early season sampling and could change over the coming months. It says the recent spell of good weather and action to reduce pollution from farms and sewer overflows are responsible for the improved test results.

The Environment Agency tests show a rise in the number it classifies as excellent of almost a fifth, from 76% 10 years ago to the current 97%. Inspectors take weekly water samples at 494 sites to measure pollution levels between May and September each year.

Last week the Marine Conservation Society rated 421 of 769 UK beaches as excellent – 33 more than 2009, but below the 505 rated highly in 2006. Its annual Good Beach Guide revealed more beaches have excellent water quality than last year, but pollution has worsened since 2006.

Source: BBC News website

The National Trust’s parks, historic houses, buildings and gardens are opening for free for a weekend in March to give the British public a “spring bonus”.

National Trust properties will be open to the public free of charge on March 20th and 21st this year. People will also be able to park for free at all of the car parks giving  access to miles of coastline and thousands of acres of countryside.

Members of the public will be able to download a voucher from the National Trust’s website, giving them free access to sites and car parks, while existing members will be able to take advantage of a special offer over the weekend.  To download the voucher visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bonus

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

Source: Yorkshire Post

RSPB Bempton Cliffs website

The Orfordness lighthouse has been a landmark on the Suffolk coast for over 210 years, but has now been recommended for closure following the latest five-year review by Trinity House, who manage all lighthouses around the coastlines of England, Wales and the Channel Islands.

It plans to discontinue all navigational aids at Orfordness, and instead proposes increasing the range of the Southwold lighthouse to compensate. Trinity House asserts that as navigational technology continues to advance the reliance on the traditional system of lighthouses around the coast has diminished.

Keith Seaman, the current Orfordness lighthouse keeper, said it would be a sad loss.

“Obviously there will be some objection from people used to looking at the Orford skyline and seeing what has become an iconic tower standing there. It would be a tremendous blow if it disappeared.

“For me it would be a sad loss having worked there since 1994. It has become a part of me and I have enjoyed showing visitors round. If the lighthouse goes then I will no longer be required.

“It’s inevitable that at some stage the tower will cease to exist because of severe erosion but that may now be hastened.”

The recommended closure of the lighthouse has been made somewhat inevitable by the local coastal erosion, and the lighthouse may be lost to the sea anyway within five years, unless it was moved inland or coastal defences in the immediate area were strengthened.

Objection to the proposed closure is already being sounded by members of the The Alde and Ore Association, and the Public consultation pediod will continue until January 29th 2010. Responses should be sent to Navigation Directorate, Trinity House, Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4DH (email navigation.directorate@thls.org).

Source: EADT24.

The long awaited Marine and Coastal Access Bill is set to become law. It will establish a set of marine conservation zones around the coast of England and Wales. The Bill also includes plans to create a footpath stretching along the entire coastline of England and Wales, and the creation of a government body to be named the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

The Bill is currently in its final stages in the Lords before receiving Royal Assent and becoming law.

Critics of the Bill say the measures, which will ban fishing in certain coastal areas, will not offer enough protection to endangered marine species.

The Marine Management Organisation will be tasked with marine-related issues, such as plans for offshore wind farms, and would become a centre of marine expertise.

Source: BBC News website

After the success of last year’s Autumn Walking Weekend, the Isle of Wight Council will be repeating the event this year between 23rd and 26th October 2009. There will be over 50 walks to choose from, with a wide range of walks for all ages and abilities. The walks are led by experienced volunteers. Many of the walks are free and range from easy, level walking routes, to challenging sloping walks more suited to keen walkers and those with a good basic level of fitness.

Walks include “the Darwin Celebration” which will take place around Sandown Bay, and an “Alfred Lord Tennyson” walk exploring the landscapes that inspired the Victorian poet laureate during his time on the Island.

There are over 500 miles of well-maintained and signposted footpaths around the Isle of Wight Heritage Coastline.

See http://www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk/ for more details.

The cruise liner Queen Mary 2 is currently docked in Greenock (Glasgow) as part of a tour of the British coast to celebrate the 151,400 tonne ship’s fifth birthday.

A viewing area has been set up at the Ocean Terminal to allow onlookers the chance to see the enormous $800 million cruise ship. A firework display will mark the departure of the ship. The Queen Mary 2, operated by Cunard, is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower (984 ft) at 1,132 feet and is currently the World’s largest ocean liner (until the 225,000 tonne Oasis of the Seas becomes operational in November 2009).

Source: UK Press Association

Great Yarmouth’s “Out There” Festival is taking place this weekend (Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th September).  Top European acts including French acrobats Les 3 Points De Suspension, Dinosaur stilt walkers from the Netherlands and Brazilian style floats will be performing at various places around the town.

UK talent including comedy duo Ronny Ronco and Kenny K-Tell aka “Cheesy Rider”, and Kings Lynn based parkour group KLFR will also be taking part.

The “Out There 2009″ festival now in it’s second year is part of a larger plan for Great Yarmouth as the town aims to build it’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading destinations for street entertainment. The festival is backed by EU funding totaling €600,000.

Focusing on the less beautiful aspects of Britain’s coastline, BBC’s Panorama will be showing a programme entitled ‘Britain’s Dirty Beaches’ on Monday night (7th September).  The programme will investigate the outflow pipes that discharge sewage and other items into our coastal areas, and will show the results of it’s own specially commissioned scientific tests.

UK viewers will be able to see the programme on BBC One, Monday 7th September at 20:30 or information about the programme is available on the BBC website.

Update 16th September 2009: The Environment Agency has responded to the Panorama program with their own short film which can be viewed below. You can also view their response to our blog post in the Comments section of this post.