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AIBU?

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Original poster

To remove a pebble from a beach?

198 replies

Pigeonpoodle · 16/02/2026 10:50

I saw this on another thread… Apparently “everyone knows that’s wrong!” I’ve very occasionally taken the odd interesting pebble as a momento. AIBU to have done that… What on earth could be the problem with it? One pebble amongst billions!

OP posts:
EleanorReally · 16/02/2026 15:00

Coconutter24 · 16/02/2026 14:56

A quick google will tell you why it’s discouraged

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i can't see any information at all

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/02/2026 14:59

Coconutter24 · 16/02/2026 14:58

It’s not really though is it. What if we all decided to dump our unwanted garden waste at the beach? And that’s not even starting on the environmental impact

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I thought pp was talking about stones?

EleanorReally · 16/02/2026 14:58

KilkennyCats · 16/02/2026 14:55

You don’t see why you shouldn’t take your garden rubble and deposit it at the beach?
🤷🏻‍♀️

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no one mentioned rubble

Coconutter24 · 16/02/2026 14:58

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/02/2026 14:53

What a silly thing to say.

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It’s not really though is it. What if we all decided to dump our unwanted garden waste at the beach? And that’s not even starting on the environmental impact

PGmicstand · 16/02/2026 14:58

BollyMolly · 16/02/2026 11:06

Why would you do
it now that you know you’re not supposed to? It’s not hard to look up the reasons why you’re not supposed to do it, and why it can attract a fine. If you’re invested enough to start a thread about it, why wouldn’t you just do a quick google?

I’ve taken shells from
beaches before, but since learning that people taking shells mean that crabs end up living in plastic, I stopped doing it because to carry on doing it would make me a selfish twat.

Same as you.
I've done it in the past. I now understand why it's wrong.
I won't do it going forward.

Coconutter24 · 16/02/2026 14:56

EleanorReally · 16/02/2026 14:51

i dont see why not

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A quick google will tell you why it’s discouraged

KilkennyCats · 16/02/2026 14:55

EleanorReally · 16/02/2026 14:51

i dont see why not

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You don’t see why you shouldn’t take your garden rubble and deposit it at the beach?
🤷🏻‍♀️

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/02/2026 14:53

Coconutter24 · 16/02/2026 14:44

Probably not the best idea. Take them to the tip if you want rid

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What a silly thing to say.

Luckyingame · 16/02/2026 14:52

KimberleyClark · 16/02/2026 11:23

What about seashells? Is it ok to take those?

Apparently absolutely not.

EleanorReally · 16/02/2026 14:51

Coconutter24 · 16/02/2026 14:44

Probably not the best idea. Take them to the tip if you want rid

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i dont see why not

Coconutter24 · 16/02/2026 14:44

Walkacrossthesand · 16/02/2026 11:37

You’ve just given me an idea - my garden soil is quite stony (small stones, but a nuisance around planting) so I put them to one side & then don’t know what to do with them. I live near a stony beach, maybe I could take a bucketful to the shore now & again & deposit them!

Probably not the best idea. Take them to the tip if you want rid

Lovelyview · 16/02/2026 14:22

AI suggests: Estimates for the number of pebbles on Brighton beach range from approximately 614 million to over 100 billion, depending on the area measured and depth considered. A 1999 study suggested roughly 100 billion standard 5cm pebbles exist along the 10km stretch from Brighton Marina to Hove Lagoon.

You are not going to have any impact at all taking a pebble home from a beach. Hope that helps.

EleanorReally · 16/02/2026 14:19

Citrusbergamia · 16/02/2026 12:41

ok....what about bits of sea glass?! I've got a beautiful clear pot at home that I add to, every time I go to a different pebbly beach, with different colour sea glass. Am I for the gallows too? 😱

i know of people who make thigns and sell them out of sea glass

Stowickthevast · 16/02/2026 14:16

HeadyLamarr · 16/02/2026 12:50

Of course it isn't. It's perfectly legal to forage. I'll be heading to the woods for som wild garlic next week.

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It's not legal to forage everywhere. Where I live foraging in the local forest is illegal, particularly fungi.

Louisetopaz21 · 16/02/2026 14:11

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 16/02/2026 14:10

It’s a bit different. Ayers Rock (Uluru) is a holy place. Brighton beach isn’t.

Edited
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Some might think so 🤔 🤣🤣

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 16/02/2026 14:10

Louisetopaz21 · 16/02/2026 14:06

I know this isnt a pebble on a beach but years ago I went to Ayres rock when you could get near it and climb up it. Everyone I was with took a piece, I didn't as I did not want to get jinxed so I refused. But imagine everyone did, there wouldn't be anything left, I imagine it would be similar

It’s a bit different. Ayers Rock (Uluru) is a holy place. Brighton beach isn’t.

likelysuspect · 16/02/2026 14:08

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 16/02/2026 13:55

Is he a relation to the caterpillar of the same name?

If so, the caterpillar has made a much bigger success of his life. It must be a source of great friction in the family.

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They're cousins

But you're right, there is huge jealousy between them and Colin Crab started working with Aldi the other year to make Cuthbert the Caterpillar to undermine that side of the family.

Complete estrangement now.

MissMoneyFairy · 16/02/2026 14:08

Where do landscape warehouses get their pebbles and shingle from

Louisetopaz21 · 16/02/2026 14:06

I know this isnt a pebble on a beach but years ago I went to Ayres rock when you could get near it and climb up it. Everyone I was with took a piece, I didn't as I did not want to get jinxed so I refused. But imagine everyone did, there wouldn't be anything left, I imagine it would be similar

ProfessorInkling · 16/02/2026 14:05

I will pick a few wildflowers, it’s the same as foraging surely.

I’ve got some lovely pebbles from beach trips when my kids were little.

ProfessorInkling · 16/02/2026 14:03

HelpMeGetThrough · 16/02/2026 13:51

Colin Crab? Right that fucker can go in my bucket, with my pebbles.

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🤣🤣🤣

HelpMeGetThrough · 16/02/2026 14:00

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 16/02/2026 13:55

Is he a relation to the caterpillar of the same name?

If so, the caterpillar has made a much bigger success of his life. It must be a source of great friction in the family.

Show quote history

He’ll be posting on here soon. ‘My brother is so much more successful, popular and wealthy than me and I’m jealous.”

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 16/02/2026 13:55

HelpMeGetThrough · 16/02/2026 13:51

Colin Crab? Right that fucker can go in my bucket, with my pebbles.

Show quote history

Is he a relation to the caterpillar of the same name?

If so, the caterpillar has made a much bigger success of his life. It must be a source of great friction in the family.

Chisbots · 16/02/2026 13:55

People do this on our local beach.

But it's not just one, it's a bag sometimes. I've even seen a woman with a boot full of stones.

Even one adds up if everyone does it.

But the thing is that pebble bank is the man-made flood defences. My council tax pays for it & tbh, I'm fed up of people stealing it.

Just don't...

ImPamDoove · 16/02/2026 13:52

Not something I’d ever do, but my son brought me a heart shaped pebble back from a beach. The scoundrel.