Concrete block at Sandsfoot turned into mural with a message
Beach users are asked to leave only their footprints behind
A dull concrete block has been changed into a colourful new mural to greet visitors to Sandsfoot Castle beach in Weymouth.
But the artwork also has an important message.
It's been designed and produced by Weymouth-based Dead Walk Designs and commissioned by Litter Free Dorset and the Castle Cove Sailing Club.
The colourful mural welcomes visitors to the beach and sets a positive tone for behaviour, encouraging beach users to ‘Leave Only Footprints’.
Stuart Beckingham from Litter Free Dorset said:
“These wonderful beaches are cherished by the community and visitors alike. We wanted to emphasise this shared pride of place by creating something that reflects how people enjoy the beach, whilst encouraging everyone to take care of this special spot”.
Grace Martin, Rear Commodore (shore) from Castle Cove Sailing Club commented:
"This dull concrete block is now a bright and cheerful addition to the beach, with an important message to keep it clean and tidy. Everyone that has seen it has commented how fantastic it looks”.
Shaun Davies, founder of Dead Walk Designs added:
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Litter Free Dorset and the Castle Cove Sailing Club to create the mural and promote a positive message at this wonderful beach. An enjoyable project and a rare opportunity for us to be working local, in the sunshine and for a great cause!”.
Why is litter such a problem?
Litter Free Dorset say not only does litter impact how our beaches look and feel, it contributes to the accumulation of plastic pollution in the marine environment, harms our wildlife, and impacts the quality of our bathing waters.
Littered items, such as cigarette butts, contain toxins that are released into the marine environment as they break down. Other sources of pollution such as bacteria found in faecal matter can also affect bathing water quality, impacting both water users and local businesses such as the nearby mussel and seaweed farm that operates in the harbour.
The design adorns a concrete block that caps a surface water outflow pipe into Portland harbour, which links to another Litter Free Dorset project being undertaken in the local area to raise awareness that roadside drains are surface water drains that lead to the sea.