The Green Coast Award acknowledges beaches which meet EC bathing water quality standards, but which are also prized for their natural, unspoiled environment. A "natural, unspoilt environment" means that the special character of such a beach may not be compatible with the level of infrastructure and intensive management generally associated with more urban, traditional seaside resort beaches.

The Award is objective-led, which encourages 'best practice' in management of rural beaches and emphasises community involvement in their management. Green Coast Award beaches demonstrate clean water and sound environmental management.

Ballinesker Beach in County Wexford

Beaches eligible for this award will generally:

• Be managed carefully and in consultation with conservation organisations, so as to take into account in the management plan, their environmentally sensitive nature.
• Have considered the design and location of facilities and signs whether close to or distant from the beach, so as to minimise their visual impact on the landscape.
• Be cleaned of litter sensitively without removing natural debris such as driftwood and seaweed.

For more information about the Clean Coast Project, please contact:

Aidan Gray, Clean Coast Project Officer,
An Taisce Environment Education Unit, Tailor's Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8
Tel: 046 94 81710 Email: gcawards@antaisce.org

Clean Coast is a European Union funded project under the INTERREG 111A Programme