Do you collect shells from the beach

I collected them as a child, though stones more than shells as stones don't break when you're bringing them home!
I still keep an eye out for stones with a hole through them whenever I'm on a stony beach as I love those. Not sure its illegal in my country though anyway, at least I can't find anything saying it is, and the right to collect things from nature (like berries, mushrooms, and flowers) are enshrined in law and the only things the law forbids is lichen, moss and fallen wood from private land. No mention of shells or stones.

I have collected a lot of shells over the years. I don't make crafts out of them, I have them displayed in various containers. I have also bought bags of shells so I wouldn't be able to distinguish which I'd collected or bought

I could return some to the beaches as I have a lot but all the beaches by me pebbly.

You aren't supposed to collect stones either. Watched a recent YouTuber saying how she loved to collect beach stones to put in vases - yikes!

Thank you.

I think we should leave them instead of turning them into bricabrac. Other creatures need them and they end up as sand.

I have googled and it seems it’s only illegal on some coastlines?

No, I’m worried about the environmental impact so I admire them put them back. I do collect sea glass though!

I did not know it was illegal, but I don't do it (anymore - I did as a child). Apparently it is illegal to take any natural material from beaches, including stones. I wonder how people get away with fossil hunting, eg on the Jurassic Coast?

By the way, I recently found out to my great surprise that it is NOT illegal to pick wildflowers as long as you don't uproot or damage the plant, or pick from the list of endangered species. I thought wild flower picking had been illegal for years.

I collect shells. But only pretty ones, I don’t have carrier bags full. I didn’t know it was illegal. More a calming activity on the beach on holiday. I do pick up sea glass as well.

I didn't know it was illegal. I don't but I've let DC take one or two home, not more than that though. Eldest (7) is hopeful of finding a shell with a pearl inside. I was thinking of buying one and planting it for her to find but not sure if I should or not!

What is the environmental impact/issue? Will Google now as well !

I'm a leave no trace in the countryside but pick up a shell from every beach trip I take. I remember being taught at school about the countryside (don't pick bluebells/snowdrops/random mushrooms and flowers, shut any gate you open, don't litter) water safety and general be kind to the countryside. I don't remember my children ever having these lessons at school, why is that? (I do pass this knowledge on but not every family does so if the local park is anything to go by).

I used to pick up shells as a child and hadn't thought about it being illegal. Despite the fact that we used to pick wild flowers as well and I wouldn't do that now.

I moved to a seaside town a few years ago and did collect some shells to put into a vase- then read it was illegal! 😬

I found a box of sea glass at the property and have recently seen some lovely sea glass art that I shall my hand at. Maybe that is another option rather than collecting shells.

Didn’t know it was illegal, but yeah 1 or 2, wouldn’t take loads. Same with little stones. Mind you, last weekend saw a lady with her 2 grandchildren struggling under the weight of the stones etc they’d collected (3 carrier bags each) and that pissed me off. I was always led to believe it was cheeky/bad for the environment rather than against the law. A big bugbear of mine is people picking/letting their children pick flowers in the park or wherever. I mean daffodils and stuff not daisies.

I absolutely love beach combing and do it and every opportunity. I have 3 massive vases full of shells that I've collected over a life time, my kids love to get involved too. I think it's my most favourite thing to do.

We do but we have a rule that we can only take one home so pick our favourite

We live by the beach and ds picks up the odd interesting one, not for Etsy crafts, they live in his sand table in the garden. I'd never let him take loads.

No, but we are naughty and we do steal a very small ikea freezer bag (not full) of sand.

Sometimes dc will take 1 or 2 pretty ones as a memento, but not hermit type ones, we leave those. Certainly don't take loads. Never thought about it as illegal before...

Never any good ones tbh otherwise I wouldn’t see the harm in taking one. Not like those stools selling them by the boot load mind.

Reason the law probably exists is to the greedy people taking loads and loads rather than one or two as a “from my visit to X place”

what’s the law on sea glass since technically the glass was dumped as rubbish so in theory your litter picking 😅

Had no idea that it's illegal, my 10 year old just brought home a bag of shells she collected on the beach in Spain and she does the same here as well!!

I live in a seaside resort and those shell craft gifts are hideous.
Stuck together with permanent glue, bits of plastic and googly eyes stuck on, or fashioned into cheap looking 70's style plant holder nets or glued onto picture frames.

Leave them on the beach please, they look much nicer there and will eventually grind down and be compressed over millions of years back into rock.
In the meantime children can decorate sand sculptures with them and let the tide reclaim them.

The hideous 'gifts' will just end up in landfill eventually, glue, plastic and all the chemicals they're stuck together and varnished with.