In total, 1.5 million cubic metres of beach material have been dredged from Poole Harbour and off the Isle of Wight and replaced onto Bournemouth beach. Natural effects of tidal drift and winter storms move sand to the east - most of the beach material is being brought back to Bournemouth from off the Isle of Wight. This project has been fully funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).



To manage this larger beach in 2007, the Seafront Team has increased the schedule of beach preparation activity. As an example, this has doubled the frequency of checks and raking in the main season on the more exposed Southbourne Blue Flag beach.

The town’s beaches have consistently won four Blue Flag awards over the past few years. To achieve this standard requires a continuous maintenance and cleansing programme. The standard of the cleanliness of the beaches is something we know, from research, the general public judge us on and is something we are very proud of.