Beach festival could help bring blue flag to Swansea Bay

Swansea Council is hoping a beach festival in Swansea Bay will help move the seafront location further towards achieving blue flag status.

Bae Fest 2009 is a one-day free beach festival taking place along the five-mile stretch of beach front in Swansea Bay on Saturday September 19.

The aim of the event is to raise environmental issues which directly affect beaches and local amenities.

Blue flag status has been awarded to four beaches in Swansea at Langland Bay, Caswell Bay, Bracelet Bay and Port Eynon. The Council is hopeful that in the future Swansea Bay can also gain blue flag status.

The prestigious flag is awarded to coastal destinations which have achieved the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management.

Organisers of the Bae Fest event have included a wide range of fun events and work shops, including live music and a world record attempt for the longest surfer's chain.

Volunteers are also needed at the event to take part in litter survey and a beach clean-up.

Swansea Council has held a number of Tidy Towns initiatives to target neglected parts of Swansea and clear up litter. Tidy Towns coordinators will be at the event to help to pass on the message of litter clearance.

John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment in Swansea Council, said: "We've held litter clean-up events throughout Swansea as part of the Tidy Towns initiative, so it makes sense for us to support Bae Fest and hopefully move Swansea Bay closer to achieving Blue Flag status."

Another of the event sponsors, The Marine Conservation Society, says the litter survey will help to address the issue of beach litter and protect marine life.

Emma Snowden, MCS Litter Projects Co-ordinator, said: "If you care about our amazing marine wildlife and are concerned about the growing tide of litter in the UK, then this is your chance to make a difference.

"The information you collect will help us to tackle the sources of litter and campaign to reduce the most common items ending up on our beaches and killing wildlife."

Visit www.baefest.com for further information on Bae Fest 2009.