Taking Pebbles From A Beach

[horseshoes]

I know there are a few legal folk on here, so I'm hoping they can answer my query which is "Is it illegal to take pebbles from a beach". I know that you can't take things from a site of special scientific interest, but I'm talking about just the local sea shore.

Thank you.

[mikey4444]

I am guessing that if you turned up with a low-loader, and left a trench on the beach, somebody would be slightly upset. But a pebble of two .......?

[jourdain2]

I can't see any problem, t.b.h.. As mikey says. One of the joys of childhood is collecting a few interesting pebbles and it teaches them about erosion, geological ages - all sorts of things.

[douglas9401]

If you turned up with a low-loader the pebbles would roll off at the first corner.
Better with a tipper fitted with a grab.

Think, Mikey, think!

[mikey4444]

One of my hobbies is Geology, which was taught in Boys Schools here in South Wales in the 60's and 70's.

My mantle piece is chock full of interesting pebbles, from all over the world !

[Islay]

I know you can't from Norfolk I assume it's the same law throughout England

[Old_Geezer]

No expert, but I would doubt that the quantity would be specified to define a crime and change it into a legal activity. That said, common sense means that small incursions, such as a pebble or two, authorities could turn a blind eye to. Provided not too many do it to cause an issue. Of course, you might bump into a job'sworth who wants to stop all regardless.

[mikey4444]

lol Dougie !

[jourdain2]

If Islay is right, then the Law is as Mr. Bumble the Beadle says!

[mikey4444]

I can't any problem whatsoever wrong with taking a pebble or two.

[Old_Geezer]

Depends on whether it is a local by-law or a national one.
If the former the question needs to state which beach.

[Islay]

1 or 2 is ok but in the days of ground force we had people turning up and removing bucket loads

[jno]

the east coast is sinking anyway; I imagine people slowly stripping pebbles away wouldn't be a lot of help.

[Baldric]

We use a local(ish) Private Estate with a large pebble beach quite often for Dog walking, pay £75 a year for the privilege, but it is very nice and generally well kept and pleasant. They had a spate of people loading up cars and vans with buckets of pebbles, if you saw it and rang Security they would turn up very rapidly

[douglas9401]

You had to be there. :)

[Peter Pedant]

// Think, Mikey, think!//
oh come arrrrn ! D this is AB
since when did anyone think before they posted ?
er to the q

Lyme to Charmouth you get all the fossil hunters in the undercliff ( ha technical word no one will know the meaning of) - and I have never heard anyone say they cant ( take the beautiful jurassic fossils which fall off the lias cliffs in profusion)

the bit between high and low tide has a special name and I thought no one could own it ( or perhaps the sovereign does)

and wasnt there that family in Shoreham who lived on the beach and they had a hoolie about it on the 1921 census ? [tv prog a few years ago]

and yeah I agree - if the few pebbles are really a lorry full of cockles then yeah you need a licence......

[horseshoes]

Jno, I'm on the west coast to I'd actually be helping by evening things out;-)

[sapelesam]

On the coast north of Blackpool, new sea defences have been built and more pebbles brought in. It is now an offence to remove pebbles,this hasn't stopped the chancers. I don't think a handful would be frowned upon.

[Peter Pedant]

blimey I hadnt realised it was so variable

there is a footpath Charmouth to Lyme - but doggie access is restricted Apr to Nov along with a jobsworth to enforce it
and the chesil beach ....

http://www.chesilbeach.org/access.html

[-Talbot-]

What if Horseshoes has man hands?

[horseshoes]

Talbot, funnily enough I have absolutely tiny hands. I'm not a man by the way, but even for a female, my hands are VERY small. Lol