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All of us enjoy a day out but we must remember to respect what makes our day out so enjoyable - the beautiful scenery,
clean water and fresh air. Those special places won't be special in the future unless we take measures now to ensure our actions
are responsible.
Leisure pursuits
Boats and jet-skis create noise and chemical pollution which is disturbing to wildlife- don't keep the engine running
unnecessarily
If you are sailing, surfing or windsurfing keep a distance of at least 100m from seal resting and bird nesting sites
to avoid disturbing them
Only participate in hunting or fishing when it can be shown to be part of an effective management plan
When rock pooling, don't disturb animals especially limpets as they can die if dislodged from the rock
Don't use lead weights for angling, this is now illegal as lead is a toxic metal
Discard hooks, nets, lines and weights responsibly as they are a potential threat to wildlife
Don't damage or collect marine life when diving. A carelessly kicked fin can easily break coral that has taken 50 years
to grow
Keep it beautiful
Take all rubbish home from the beach and countryside many items take years to degrade and are dangerous to wildlife
Find out about places before you visit. You may be visiting a Site of Special Scientific Importance (SSSI) or other environmentally
sensitive area, in which case you must take extra care to stay on footpaths and follow signs
Don't let your dog disturb wildlife or foul the beach. If there are no disposal bins ask the local council to provide
some
Dispose of sanitary waste properly, not down the toilet - or you might just find it on the beach next time you visit
Report anything unusual such as pollution or animal strandings to the local authority, coastguard or environment agency
Voice concerns about planned development of environmentally sensitive areas to your MP or council
Never pick wild flowers, dig up wild plants or break tree branches
© WWF-UK reproduced here with their kind permission
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