1970s crisp packet washed out of litter-filled cliff

7 days ago

Indy Almroth-WrightSouth of England

Since the sea defences were removed, National Trust staff have been clearing the beach rubbish daily

National Trust Red and blue KP crisp packet - thought to be from the 1970s - the packet has Ready Salted and 5p on the top edge. — Since the sea defences were removed, National Trust staff have been clearing the beach rubbish daily

A 1970s crisp packet, a post-war Bovril jar, and several pairs of women's tights have washed out from cliffs on a beach where sea defences have been removed.

The unusual finds have turned up at the National Trust-owned Middle Beach in Studland, Dorset, where failing coastal defences have been taken down to allow the shoreline to return to nature.

The rubbish is thought to have come from the remains of a toilet block on the cliff likely filled with litter before being covered up.

The trust said daily clean-ups were underway on the beach with a small number of items to a few sacks being collected each day and sorted with any historic finds being kept for investigation by archaeology volunteers.

The National Trust said the rubbish being found appears to have come from an old toilet block buried within the cliff

National Trust Sandy beach cliffs with brick work seen in a line along the sand — The National Trust said the rubbish being found appears to have come from an old toilet block buried within the cliff

Along with the general rubbish, including plastic bottles, bags, glass bottles and chunks of metal from the buried toilet block, shards of pottery have also been found being washed out from a different spot.

The National Trust said the pieces, that are thought to be linked to an early 20th-century beach cafe on the cliffs were being analysed.

It said it was unaware how much rubbish had been dumped within the former structures.

Tracey Churcher, National Trust general manager for Purbeck said it was "disappointing" to see the previous attitudes to litter disposal after finding it appeared rubbish had been backfilled into the toilet block.

The trust said it aimed to remove all man-made items from the beach apart from the World War II structures, including anti tank defences and the roof of a pillbox.

The concrete and stone defences have been removed at Middle Beach, Studland

Trevor Beavins/Local Democracy Reporting Service Three bright yellow pieces of heavy plant machinery work on removing sea defences from the beach at low tide. — The concrete and stone defences have been removed at Middle Beach, Studland

Churcher added the speed the beach was changing since the concrete and stone defences were removed was "astonishing" with a noticeable increase in bird life including brent geese and oystercatchers.

A new sandy cliff has started forming and about one metre of height has been gained across the whole beach.

The beach, closed for over a year is not expected to reopened until the cliffs stabilise.

The trust added for the past 40 years, since it took ownership of the area, staff had been clearing glass and general debris falling onto the beach as it rooted its way out from cliffs along a further stretch previously used as an informal waste tip.