Stay safe on our beaches
Published
Wednesday 18 June, 2025
Updated
Wednesday 18 June, 2025
Swale Borough Council are reminding people to keep safe while visiting Swale’s award-winning beaches.
As the weather starts to get nicer, the council are sharing tips and reminding residents of their responsibilities while visiting the bathing beaches on the Isle of Sheppey.
You should:
- put your litter in a bin or take it home with you
- swim in areas where lifeguards are available
- not take inflatables into the sea
- park in car parks when visiting the beach, not on public roads
- leave all wild animals and plants in their natural homes
It is not permitted to light fires or BBQs on the beach - under the council’s byelaws - as this can put yourself, others and our natural environment in danger.
Children should only enter the water when they’re with a responsible adult and should be supervised while on the beach, at all times.
This year the beaches which have met the high standard required to be presented with a Blue Flag, Seaside Award, or both from the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy are:
- Sheerness – Blue Flag and Seaside Award
- Leysdown – Seaside Award
- Minster Leas – Seaside Award
RNLI lifeguards will also continue to keep people safe on Swale’s bathing beaches after Swale’s councillors agreed a new contract.
The service, which has operated since 2012, sees qualified lifeguards patrolling Leysdown and Sheerness beaches on weekends and bank holidays from May, and seven days a week during summer (July to September).
They monitor sea conditions, set up the appropriate flags, monitor visitors to the beach, offer safety advice and are equipped with the best training and equipment.
The council also remind beachgoers that just because lifeguards are present it doesn’t mean people should act recklessly, please keep yourself and others safe.
If you are a dog owner you won’t be able to walk your dog in certain parts of our beaches between 1 May and the 30 September each year, and you may receive a fine if you do.
Anyone planning to collect shellfish, should remember to only collect for your own personal consumption (up to 5kg) and do not gather cockles, or any shellfish from our SSSIs.
Doing so can come with risks, these types of shellfish can hold onto toxins and bacteria from the sea, and eating contaminated flesh can result in serious illness.
Cllr Dolley Wooster, chair of the council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee, said:
“Now that the weather is starting to get warmer and sunnier as we approach summer, we think it is important to remind our residents to make sure they are enjoying our beautiful beaches responsibly.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with the RNLI who are excellent and have helped save countless lives, but just because they are there doesn’t mean you should act recklessly.
“We are also asking people not to light fires on our beaches, this is dangerous and can lead to uncontrollable fires that put you, others and our wildlife at risk.
“We are incredibly lucky to have three award winning bathing beaches on the Isle of Sheppey – we want residents to enjoy them to the fullest while staying safe.”
