Court threat for pebble collectors

[Mr T.]

Court threat for pebble collectors
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 25/03/2005)

Visitors to beaches in North Somerset have been warned they face prosecution if they take away pebbles to decorate their gardens.

A number of people have been seen taking buckets of stones from a beach at Clevedon, which is home to rare species of plants and birds and is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

North Somerset Council, which issued the warning, said that the pebble gatherers are thought to be following a trend inspired by television.

Adrian Akester, the council's area manager, said: "The pebbles act as a habitat for the insects and spiders on which our colony of breeding birds live.

"We are not sure why people are doing it but these home improvement programmes may be a factor as people are using the stones to decorate their gardens."

[Finless]

I thought this was the case for all beaches - not just ones that have SSI rating?

Well, I'm sure it is the case in Hastings and so must be the same everywhere else because ....

[hopper]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

"We are not sure why people are doing it but these home improvement programmes may be a factor as people are using the stones to decorate their gardens."

And the Garden Centres charge about £10/bag full and a bucket full from the beach is zilch.