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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take pebbles from the beach?

353 replies

DarylDixonsHair · 25/05/2020 15:02

Is it allowed? I'd like to put some borders around my flowers beds so need about 20 - 30 medium sized ones. I wouldn't take them all in one go, probably a handful at a time while dog walking.

Just wanted to check I'm not breaking the law/endangering the planet/taking the piss.

OP posts:
elfycat · 25/05/2020 20:31

We have one. It was impossible to get 4 yo DD2 off the beach without taking it. It's been adopted (I wish I was kidding) and is called 'Stony'. Stony lives on the top of a chest of drawers along with Loggy, Twiggy and various crystal tumblestones, sea glass and other bits and pieces she's adopted. I'm drying some blue spruce twigs that had been snapped off a tree in a local museum (I took it with the staff's permission) to add to this.

I'm scared that it might be some kind of child-version alter to some god or other. Actually that would be pretty cool.

So sue me, or call the cops. It would have broken her heart to leave it behind. I have no idea why or what it is that attracts her to this stuff that's a big fat lie... all her crystals were once mine but once her heart loves something we're fucking doomed.

We also take rubbish bag to the beach every time, we've found all sorts including a needle and syringe (luckily they'd resheathed the needle tightly) so I think we're doing ok for beach karma.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 25/05/2020 20:35

It was not a literal comment it was in reference to there being many many pebbles on brighton beach

Half the population isn’t going to go to Brighton on day and all take a couple of pebbles home for their garden so don’t worry

EatShitBoswell · 25/05/2020 21:42

Caught beachlifting, the shame of it!

Beachlifting 😂

Ginfordinner · 25/05/2020 21:43

Honestly just do it OP, just take a few nice ones at a time. No one cares apart from a few busy bodies

Have you no sense of social responsibility GreyGardens88 Hmm

No one cares apart from a few busy bodies

The people who care are not busbodies. They aren't thoughtless and selfish like you GreyGardens88 Hmm

sarahlovescake79 · 25/05/2020 21:49

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Original poster
DarylDixonsHair · 25/05/2020 21:58

Who knew my most popular mn thread would be about pebble thieving.

OK, I'll leave the pebbles and buy from Amazon. because that's better for the environment

OP posts:
AtopAHighHill · 25/05/2020 22:01

We've always took pebbles from the beach. When DS was smaller he used to hunt for vaguely heart shaped ones for me. I still have them all in a vase.
Also took some bigger ones for the garden, genuinely didn't know it was forbidden. Confused

FOJN · 25/05/2020 22:18

because that's better for the environment

Other pebble retailers are available.

Ginfordinner · 25/05/2020 22:34

The 1949 Coastal Protection Act states it is illegal to remove stones from the beach as it impacts coastal erosion

For those unable to understand why we shouldn't remove pebbles from beaches or who think they are above the law.

BirdieFriendReturns · 25/05/2020 22:41

I have a sea shell and stone from a beach on my bedside cabinet. Do I report myself to 101?

Original poster
DarylDixonsHair · 26/05/2020 09:07

Other pebble retailers are available

Lies! Grin

OP posts:
StatementKnickers · 26/05/2020 09:55

This thread really needs to be a voting one!

I think YWBU to take pebbles from the beach. Would you pick bluebells in a forest? Hopefully not. It's the same thing.

Changedname1468 · 26/05/2020 10:15

Ok, I've got the solution: Buy a bag of generic medium sized pebbles and empty it on the beach, then you can pick your 20-30 individual pebbles guiltfree (and will have offset future pebble picking). Yes? No?

AwwDontGo · 26/05/2020 10:20

Uh oh ... We take a pebble from the beach every time we visit....they have to have hole and, are threaded onto some rope, and hang on our shed wall.... Whoops

Haha, pretty sure everyone (well nearly everyone) who live by the beach does the same.

grumpyorange · 26/05/2020 10:23

I think most of MN will be hardened criminals then. My whole family will be behind bars!

PafLeChien · 26/05/2020 10:42

And this shows how kids are being raised these days: no one gives a shit about anything, joe public knows better than anyone else, rules don't apply to them, and who cares what the rules are if you can get away with it.

This thread summarises the attitude towards the lockdown superbly.

Livingonachair · 26/05/2020 10:48

Just off to tell DS that he needs to turn himself into the police.
Pretty sure my nan has been collecting a pebble and shell from the beach since she first went to one so at least since 1944. I’ll have to tell her to hand herself in as well.

vanillandhoney · 26/05/2020 10:50

Interesting how the vast majority think this behaviour is okay - ignoring how it's illegal and how much it contributes to coastal erosion.

Yet on other threads people are happy to ring the police because their neighbour has a friend over for socially distanced coffee in the garden!

TheNoodlesIncident · 26/05/2020 10:58

If you buy them from a garden centre you will be helping the economy and getting a bag of consistently sized and coloured pebbles which don't need to be scrubbed to get rid of the salt either. They will look nice and you won't disturb the ecosystems (ie the multitude of tiny organisms that live on the shore). Of course people will say it doesn't have any impact, what they mean is it doesn't impact them so they don't care.

Actually I think the size you might mean would be cobbles. I have some of those and they do look lovely and suppress weeds/deter animals disturbing the soil. They're not that expensive either.

Donttakeno · 26/05/2020 10:58

@vanillandhoney it is also illegal to drive in the pavement yet most people do this everyday to get to their driveways or park on the curb. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Washyourhandsyoufilthyanimal · 26/05/2020 10:58

Oh bloody hell I can’t believe people are saying no! Why would you even ask this. Yes take a few pebbles.

floppyhare · 26/05/2020 11:00

@greygardens88 Honestly just do it OP, just take a few nice ones at a time. No one cares apart from a few busy bodies

Tell that to people living on the east coast where coastal erosion is a massive problem. Have a look at this - do you still think it's OK?

Ginfordinner · 26/05/2020 13:25

Interesting how the vast majority think this behaviour is okay - ignoring how it's illegal and how much it contributes to coastal erosion. Yet on other threads people are happy to ring the police because their neighbour has a friend over for socially distanced coffee in the garden!

I think everyone who takes loads of pebbles from beaches should buy a house on top of the cliffs in Sacrborough. Then they will see the impact of what they do Hmm

These people seem to be totally incapable of understanding social responsibility and what doing things (or not doing things as the case may be) for the greater good means.

vanillandhoney · 26/05/2020 13:40

Oh bloody hell I can’t believe people are saying no! Why would you even ask this. Yes take a few pebbles.

Yeah, fuck the law. Fuck coastal erosion and all the people whose homes and businesses are by the sea. As long as you get to take home pretty pebbles, eh? Hmm

GinnyStrupac · 26/05/2020 14:19

Not all kids are being raised that way, rest assured, @PafLeChien