Little Shore – we’ve done it. On 15 May 2026, Little Shore received bathing water designation from DEFRA (The Ambler: https://www.theambler.co.uk/2026/05/15/now-we-can-celebrate-ambles-little-shore-awarded-bathing-water-status/). This is thanks to all the hard work of the volunteers from the CRAG Little Shore group.
Bathing water designation means that the Environment Agency is legally required to monitor the quality of the water and to display signs indicating whether the water is suitable for bathing. Furthermore, if the water is found to be polluted, the Environment Agency is required to track down the source of that pollution and put in place measures to reduce pollution.
Our volunteers, alongside volunteers from Amble Swimblers (a wild swimming group) spent many hours and days informing and exciting the community about the benefits of bathing water designation. They received 20 letters of support from politicians, businesses, government agencies and other envronmental and community groups. Over 550 people responded to a public opinion survey, and over 300 people were recorded bathing in Little Shore over two afternoons. The hard work has paid off.
Designation for Little Shore is good for the rest of the Coquet. There will now be more visibility of sources of pollution throughout the catchment. Specifically, the extra monitoring will be good for the bird and other wildlife in the estuary, mudflats and saltmarshes next to Little Shore, including a population of rare dwarf eelgrass in the saltmarsh in Castle Dyke (behind the Warkworth dunes).
A celebration is planned. CRAG will have a stall to highlight this acheivement right through the Puffin Festival on 23rd and 24th of May, and at 11am on the 24th is the Big Splash. We are hoping that as many people as possible with swim of paddle on Little Shore to show support. Fenwick Ridley – the Ice Viking – will be presiding (https://www.theambler.co.uk/2026/05/08/the-big-splash-ambles-little-shore/). The team hopes to see you there.
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